Government Declares Wednesday, May 27, A Public Holiday To Mark Eid-Ul-Adha

Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, has officially declared Wednesday, May 27, 2026, a public holiday across Kenya in recognition of the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Adha.

In a Gazette notice dated May 25, 2026, CS Murkomen announced the declaration in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3(1) of the Public Holidays Act.

The notice reads, “It is notified for the general information of the public that, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 (1) of the Public Holidays Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares that, Wednesday, the 27th May, 2026, shall be a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Adha.”

The celebration of Eid-ul-Adha is to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. At the very point of sacrifice, Allah  replaced Ismail with a ram, which was to be slaughtered in place of his son. This command from Allah was a test of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness and commitment to obey his Lord’s command, without question. Therefore, Eid-ul-Adha means the festival of sacrifice.

The declaration allows all Kenyan citizens, particularly the Muslim community, to observe the religious occasion without interruption from work or business obligations.