The government has gazetted a brand-new public holiday which will be observed on April 31 each year.
Dubbed the ‘National Relaxation Day,’ the holiday was made official through a gazette notice and is meant to give hardworking Kenyans a chance to relax and reflect.
"The Government of the Republic of Kenya remains steadfast in its commitment to the welfare and well-being of its citizens, and the invaluable contributions of the people of Kenya to national development and economic growth are duly recognized. In exercise of the powers conferred by the Public Holidays Act, and in appreciation of the industrious spirit of the Kenyan people, it is deemed expedient to declare an additional public holiday as a measure to enhance national productivity and socio-economic well-being," the notice read.
A top government official confirmed the notice, adding that during the holiday, all government institutions and businesses are expected to remain closed in compliance with the rest day.
Following the announcement, several government agencies have since welcomed the move, including the Kenya National Welfare Chamber (KNWC), which claimed it would help boost local tourism, among other things.
"This holiday was long overdue since Kenyans claim they never have time to do anything outside work. If anything, we can have more local tourists visiting our sites," a KNWC representative said.
A quick spot check by Kenyans.co.ke established that some businesses have already started to prepare for the holiday, with some hotels launching special packages on April 31 to entice holidaymakers.
Following the announcement, one key question among the public is how the holiday will be applied, especially since it occurs close to Labour Day, also known as International Workers' Day, which is celebrated on May 1.
Asked about the confusion in dates and the possibility of having two consecutive national holidays, the Interior Cabinet Secretary revealed that the logistics would be ironed out before the first 'rest day.'
The government, however, assured the public that despite some confusion, it was working on making the holiday official.
Despite all the uncertainty about the upcoming holiday, one thing is for certain—April only has 30 days. Happy Fools' Day!
