Government Declares May 27 Public Holiday To Mark Eid-ul-Adha
News Updated: 25 May 2026 15:47 EAT
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen addressing the nation
The government has declared Wednesday, May 27, 2026, a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Adha celebrations across the country.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced the declaration through a Special Gazette Notice issued on Monday, May 25, stating that the holiday was made under Section 3(1) of the Public Holidays Act.
Murkomen confirmed that the day will allow Muslim faithful in Kenya and across the world to commemorate Eid-ul-Adha, one of the holiest festivals in the Islamic calendar.
Also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” Eid-ul-Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God before a ram was provided as a substitute according to Islamic teachings.
The celebrations are marked by special prayers, charitable acts, family gatherings, and the slaughtering of animals, with meat shared among relatives, friends, and needy families.
The holiday also coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, which attracts millions of Muslim faithful from different countries every year.
Following the declaration, government offices, courts, schools, and many private businesses across Kenya are expected to remain closed on Wednesday in observance of the holiday.
The Interior Ministry said the public holiday is meant to provide Muslim faithful with adequate time to participate in religious activities and celebrations associated with the sacred occasion.
Kenya officially recognizes major Islamic holidays as part of the country’s commitment to religious freedom and diversity under the Constitution.
The date of Eid-ul-Adha changes annually because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, meaning the celebrations depend on the sighting of the moon.
This year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebrations come just weeks after the country observed Idd-ul-Fitr, which marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Muslim leaders and faithful across several counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Garissa, Isiolo, and Kisumu, welcomed the announcement as preparations for the celebrations intensified.
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FELIX MAKONA
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