Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared Friday, April 21, a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr.
The CS made the announcement in a special gazette notice dated Tuesday, April 19.
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 National Administration, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 (1) of the Public Holiday Act, declares Friday, April 21, 2023, shall be a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr," the gazette notice read in part.
The announcement of the holiday follows the Islamic calendar and is listed among gazetted Kenya's public holidays. The exact date varies globally depending on the moon sighting.
Muslims believe that it was during the month of Ramadhan the Qur'an text was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
During this special occasion, believers share food and other gifts with the less fortunate in their various communities.
They also convene in various places of worship to break the fast.
Kindiki's formal announcement came after a series of fake gazette notices indicating that he had declared Monday, April 24, as a public holiday.
A team from Interior Ministry flagged the posts indicating that Kindiki had not formally gazetted the public holiday.
Ruto and Raila Iftar
Ahead of the end of the fast, President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua partook of iftar dinner with Muslim faithful.
"Iftar is a special moment to come together to show kindness to others and above all to energise body and spirit for the spiritual journey of prayer and reflection in the Holy Month of Ramadan," Ruto wrote after hosting various leaders at State House on Monday, April 17.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday, April 18, also hosted the Muslim believers for Iftar, where he called on the current leadership to foster equality in all sectors.
"Sharing a meal is always a great experience, especially when it's Iftar with the Muslim community. Let us all reflect on the Ramadhan values of spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and kindness as we continue working towards a more just society and Nation," Odinga wrote.
