Dec 27, Jan 2 Declared Public Holidays

After Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced two days as public holidays, Kenyans would enjoy a longer holiday season. Tuesday, December 27, and Monday, January 2, will be marked as public holidays, Kindiki said on Thursday, December 22. He added that December 27 came after Sunday, December 25, and Monday, December 26, both of which are listed on the Kenya holiday events calendar as being holiday days.

Since January 1, which is also observed as a public holiday around the world, fell on a Sunday in 2023, the celebration was postponed to January 2. According to Section 4 of the Public Holidays Act, if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day would immediately become a public holiday. This instruction is in line with that provision. The statute states that when a day in Part I of the Schedule falls on a Sunday in any given year, "the first subsequent day which is not a public holiday shall be a public holiday and the first-mentioned day shall cease to be a public holiday."

The two public holidays were also confirmed by the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) in a statement issued under the CEO Dr. Habil Olaka's leadership. According to section 4 of the Public Holidays Act, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, Tuesday, December 27, 2022, is a public holiday to commemorate Christmas Day. "The same will apply to Monday, January 2, 2023, with respect to the new year's holiday," the statement from the Kenya Bankers Association said.