The government has declared Tuesday, May 3, a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr.
In a Special Gazette Notice dated Monday, April 25, the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matinag'i, noted that the celebration will coincide with Monday which is already a public holiday and hence the need to move it to Tuesday.
On Monday, May 2, Kenyans will celebrate Labour Day, a national public holiday.
Idd-ul-Fitr is a festival of breaking the fast and marks the end of the month-long fasting by Muslims during Ramadan.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Co-ordination of National Government in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Public Holidays Act, declares that Tuesday, May 3, 2022, shall be a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr," read part of the Gazette notice.
Matiang'i had initially announced Friday, April 29, as a national holiday in order to accord Kenyans an opportunity to participate in the State Funeral Service in honour of Kenya's third President, Emilio Mwai Kibaki.
The announcement was done in accordance with Section 3 of the Public Holidays Act.
"The Cabinet Secretary may at any time if he thinks fit, by notice in the Gazette, declare any day to be a public holiday either in addition to the days mentioned in the Schedule or in substitution for any of those days and either throughout Kenya or in any sub-county area or part thereof, and thereupon any day so appointed shall be a public holiday in all respects as if it were a day mentioned in the Schedule," reads part of the Act.
As a result, Kenyans will are set to enjoy a five-day weekend from Friday, April 29 to Tuesday, May 3.
The announcement on the Idd ul Fitr marks the first Ramadan celebrations after the government lifted the restrictions imposed two years ago due to the pandemic.
Last year's celebrations saw Muslims complete their prayers by 9.30pm in order to contend with the 10pm nationwide curfew that was in place.
