The government has declared Monday, December 13, a public holiday.
In a statement, Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, stated that since Jamuhuri Day will fall on Sunday, December 12, the government will hold the celebrations on the said day but the country will have a holiday on Monday in line with the Constitution.
Matiang'i noted that this will be in line with the provisions of Sections 2 and 4 of the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110).
"This day bears profound historical significance as it marks the attainment of Kenya’s independence and the birth of the Republic. All citizens are encouraged to honour and celebrate this day in a manner that promotes unity, national cohesion and economic progress in the country," the statement read.
Interior Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho, had announced strict protocols that Kenyans and foreign dignitaries will have to observe during the Jamhuri Day celebrations next week.
Speaking to the media on Friday, December 3, the PS stated that the government will only allow 10,000 people in the public seating and 1,000 people in the main dias.
Breaking away from tradition, this year's Jamuhuri Day celebrations will not be held at Nyayo Stadium which has been the case in the past.
PS Kibicho, who is part of the Nation Celebration Committee, stated that preparations are underway for the celebrations to be held at Uhuru Gardens along Langata Road.
"Roughly 11,000 people will attend the event because we have to observe the Covid-19 protocols very carefully. Since Covid came around, we have been holding one celebration where the President is present," PS Kibicho stated.
Further, the national government stopped parallel Mashujaa Day celebrations in counties stating that the decision was arrived at after consultations between government and expert advisors.
Since the pandemic was first reported in Kenya in March 2020, the Ministry of Health urged the government to limit the number of people who congregate in one place at the same time.
The first national holiday to be affected was Kenya's 57th Madaraka Day held on June 1, 2020. The celebrations were commemorated in a manner like no other in the country's 5-decade history.
The prevailing coronavirus pandemic forced Kenya to hold its first virtual Madaraka Day celebrations. Kibicho, on May 26, 2020, directed all Regional Commissioners to set up systems for virtual celebrations in their respective regions.
