The Ministry of Interior has distanced itself from reports indicating that it declared Monday, October 24, a public holiday.
Officials at the Ministry insisted that outgoing CS Fred Matiang'i did not gazette the holiday to allow Kenyans to celebrate the Diwali festival.
An official told Kenyans.co.ke that it was unlikely that the holiday would be gazetted.
"It is highly unlikely that it will be gazetted as the event was not celebrated in the previous years," the officials stated.
Kenyans were also urged to ignore the reports circulating on social media and continue with their normal working duties.
"It will be a normal workday. The government won’t gazette it as a public holiday,” another official told the Standard.
Reports on the purported Monday holiday emerged on social media after the government published regulations on the use of fireworks during the festivities.
“This is to inform the general public that Diwali and Hindu New Year celebrations will be held during the period between October 22 and 24. These festivities are traditionally celebrated with fireworks in authorised venues,” Energy CS, Monica Juma stated on Thursday, October 20.
“Consequently, the Hindu community is requested to ensure that fireworks displays are carried out within the requirements of the Explosives Act, Cap 115 of the Laws of Kenya," Juma added.
This was not the first time misleading reports on public holidays have circulated.
Last year, the government was forced to distance itself from a fake gazette notice that had been shared widely.
