National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah on Wednesday November 22 proposed the removal of Utamaduni Day public holiday, celebrated on October 10.
The legislator wants to amend the Public Holidays Act through the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Bill, as presented in Parliament on November 15, 2023.
The Kikuyu Member of Parliament want the day scrapped off completely as a national holiday.Â
“Under the Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110), the Bill proposes to amend the Public Holidays Act to remove Utamaduni Day as a public holiday,” the bill read in part.
The Act, outlines Kenya’s national holidays, such as New Year’s Day (January 1), Labour Day (May 1), Madaraka Day (June 1), and Mashujaa Day (October 20).
Additionally, the Act grants the Cabinet Secretary authority to declare public holidays, either additional to the schedule or as substitutions.
“The Cabinet Secretary may at any time if he thinks fit, by notice in the Gazette, declare any day to be a public holiday either in addition to the days mentioned in the schedule or in substitution for any of those days and either throughout Kenya or in any sub-county area or part thereof, and thereupon any day so appointed shall be a public holiday in all respects as if it were a day mentioned in the schedule, in Kenya or the locality specified in the notice; and where, in any year, any day is so declared to be a public holiday in substitution for any of the days mentioned in the schedule such latter day shall in such year cease to be a public holiday in Kenya or the locality specified in the notice,” the Act reads in part.
Initially, Kenyans marked Moi Day on October 10 which was later scrapped and the country adopted Utamaduni Day.
Though the day had caused confusion as it was earlier referred to as Huduma Day.
However, the Bill is set to be debated in Parliament before it is passed or rejected by lawmakers.
