CS Murkomen Declares Friday Public Holiday
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has formally declared Friday, March 20, as a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr celebrations.
In an announcement published in a special gazette notice on Wednesday night, the CS, who has been on official trips outside the country, said the day would allow the Muslim community to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 (1) of the Public Holidays Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares that Friday, the 20th March, 2026, shall be a Public Holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr,” the notice read in part.
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.
From dawn to sunset, observers abstain from food, drink (including water), smoking, and sinful behaviour to cultivate self-discipline, gratitude, and a stronger connection to God.
Following the declaration, all government offices, schools, and institutions, such as banks, are expected to remain closed in observance of the religious holiday.
This year’s Ramadan, which most communities began around February 18 following the sighting of the moon, has been notable for coinciding with other global religious and cultural observances.
On Wednesday evening, Health CS Aden Duale had hinted that the holiday would likely fall on Friday after the crescent moon of Shawwal 1447 was not sighted in Saudi Arabia.
ALSO READ:
- Ruto’s Lies Provokes Tanzania To Fact-Check His Bogus Roads Figures
- KMTC Announces Fresh Guidelines On Student Deferment, Course Change & Transfers
- EMBU: Autopsy Reveals How Hospital Protestors Died, Bullets Recovered
- Top Diplomats Exchange Blows Inside Nairobi Embassy, Investigations Underway
- “Do Not Use Excessive Force!” – Police Warned Ahead Of Fuel Protests
The absence of the new moon sighting meant that Ramadan would continue through Thursday, with Idd-ul-Fitr expected to be observed on Friday at the start of Shawwal.
Ramadan, the Lunar New Year, and Lent, three of the world’s most widely observed religious and cultural celebrations, all began within days of each other in the third week of February 2026.
The overlap has been described as a rare convergence, with each observance rooted in different traditions but aligning closely on the calendar this year.
Meanwhile, Christians, particularly Catholics, remain in the Lenten season, which is expected to culminate in early April with Easter celebrations marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
CS Murkomen Declares Friday Public Holiday
