Govt Declares Wednesday Public Holiday to Mark Eid-ul-Adha

The government has declared Wednesday, May 27, 2026, a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Adha.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, through a special gazette notice dated May 25, 2026, said the holiday is issued under Section 3(1) of the Public Holidays Act.

“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, May 27, 2026, shall be a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Adha,” the notice reads.

Eid-ul-Adha, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is one of the most significant Islamic celebrations. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering faith and willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command.

The holiday is observed annually with communal prayers, charitable giving, and the ritual slaughter of an animal, with the meat traditionally divided into three portions—one for the family, another shared with relatives and friends, and the remainder distributed to the poor and needy.

Eid-ul-Adha also coincides with the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.