The government has declared Tuesday, August 9, a public holiday.
In a Special Gazette Notice dated Thursday, August 4, Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, stated that the day will allow Kenyans time to go and exercise their democratic rights by voting for their preferred candidates.
"It is notified for information to the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Co-ordination of National Government, pursuant to and in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 (4) of the Public Holidays Act, read together with Articles 101 (1), 177 (1) (a) and 180 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, declares Tuesday, 9th August 2022, as a public holiday," read the Gazette Notice in part.
"This will afford the people of Kenya the opportunity to participate in the 2022 general elections of Members of Parliament, Members of County Assemblies and County Governors, and the President."
This comes amid calls by political leaders for the government to declare Tuesday a public holiday and avoid disrupting work schedules for Kenyans who plan to vote.
Former nominated senator Paul Njoroge was among leaders who were calling on CS Matiang'i to declare a three-day holiday for Kenyans to travel and cast their votes upcountry.
"On 8th those who stay far will need to travel and on 9th the voting day to allow Kenyans to vote and on the 10th, those who travelled upcountry will need to travel back before resuming official duty on the 11th," he added.
He opined that the government should treat the request with earnestness noting that many Kenyans might be locked out of the polls.
"This may lead to undesired election results and because we need free and fair elections, I hope the government will declare those three days as holidays," Njoroge said.
So far Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha ordered all schools to be closed on Tuesday, August 2, to allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct the August 9 General Election.
Magoha noted that all students from all basic education institutions would proceed on their half-term break effective Tuesday, August 2, and resume on Thursday, August 11.
He affirmed that the communication superseded the prior communication where the Ministry had set Saturday, August 6, as the stipulated date for closure.
