Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has officially declared Wednesday, May 27, 2026, a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Adha, one of the most important celebrations in the Islamic calendar.
In a special Gazette Notice dated May 25, Murkomen announced that the holiday had been declared under the Public Holidays Act to allow Muslims across the country to observe the festival, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.
The declaration now gives many Kenyans a midweek break just days before the Madaraka Day celebrations set for June 1 in Wajir County.
Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated by Muslims worldwide in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God before a ram was provided instead. The day is marked by special prayers, charity and the sharing of meals with family and the less fortunate.
The holiday also comes at a time when thousands of Muslims from across the world are preparing for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Murkomen’s declaration was made through Gazette Notice No. 7653 under the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
The unique angle emerging from the announcement is the growing number of midweek public holidays in Kenya this year, with workers and businesses now adjusting schedules around religious and national celebrations falling close to each other.
The Eid-ul-Adha holiday will also likely trigger increased travel, family gatherings and business activity in major towns with large Muslim populations including Nairobi, Mombasa, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.
Kenya officially recognizes both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha as public holidays, reflecting the country’s religious diversity and the importance of the Muslim community in national life.