Public holidays in Kenya

Next public holiday

10 October 2026

Saturday — Mazingira Day

Kenya observes national, religious and special gazetted public holidays under the Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110).

* Religious holiday declared following lunar sightings or faith observances.

** Holiday designated specifically for members of a particular faith community.

† Ad-hoc or special national holiday declared through a Gazette Notice.

Upcoming public holidays

Public holidays remaining in 2026.

Upcoming public holidays in 2026
DateDayHoliday
10 OctoberSaturdayMazingira Day
20 OctoberTuesdayMashujaa Day
8 NovemberSundayDiwali **
12 DecemberSaturdayJamhuri Day
25 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
26 DecemberSaturdayBoxing Day

Public holidays in 2027

Public holidays in 2027
DateDayHoliday
1 JanuaryFridayNew Year's Day
10 MarchWednesdayEid al-Fitr *
26 MarchFridayGood Friday
29 MarchMondayEaster Monday
1 MaySaturdayLabour Day
17 MayMondayEid al-Adha *
1 JuneTuesdayMadaraka Day
10 AugustTuesdayGeneral Election Day †
10 OctoberSundayMazingira Day
11 OctoberMondayMazingira Day Substitute Holiday
20 OctoberWednesdayMashujaa Day
29 OctoberFridayDiwali **
12 DecemberSundayJamhuri Day
13 DecemberMondayJamhuri Day Substitute Holiday

Public holidays in 2028

Public holidays in 2028
DateDayHoliday
1 JanuarySaturdayNew Year's Day
3 JanuaryMondayNew Year Substitute Holiday
26 FebruarySaturdayEid al-Fitr *
14 AprilFridayGood Friday
17 AprilMondayEaster Monday
1 MayMondayLabour Day
5 MayFridayEid al-Adha *
1 JuneThursdayMadaraka Day
10 OctoberTuesdayMazingira Day
20 OctoberFridayMashujaa Day
17 NovemberFridayDiwali **
12 DecemberTuesdayJamhuri Day

Past public holidays

Public holidays that have already taken place, listed from most recent to oldest.

2026

Past public holidays in 2026
DateDayHoliday
1 June 2026MondayMadaraka Day
27 May 2026WednesdayEid al-Adha *
1 May 2026FridayLabour Day
6 April 2026MondayEaster Monday
3 April 2026FridayGood Friday
20 March 2026FridayEid al-Fitr *
1 January 2026ThursdayNew Year's Day

2025

Public holidays in 2025
DateDayHoliday
26 December 2025FridayBoxing Day
25 December 2025ThursdayChristmas Day
12 December 2025FridayJamhuri Day
20 October 2025MondayDiwali **
20 October 2025MondayMashujaa Day
17 October 2025FridayPublic Mourning — State Funeral of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga †
10 October 2025FridayMazingira Day
6 June 2025FridayEid al-Adha *
2 June 2025MondayMadaraka Day Substitute Holiday
1 May 2025ThursdayLabour Day
21 April 2025MondayEaster Monday
18 April 2025FridayGood Friday
31 March 2025MondayEid al-Fitr *
1 January 2025WednesdayNew Year's Day

2024

Public holidays in 2024
DateDayHoliday
26 December 2024ThursdayBoxing Day
25 December 2024WednesdayChristmas Day
12 December 2024ThursdayJamhuri Day
1 November 2024FridayDiwali **
21 October 2024MondayMashujaa Day Substitute Holiday
20 October 2024SundayMashujaa Day
10 October 2024ThursdayMazingira Day
17 June 2024MondayEid al-Adha *
3 June 2024MondayMadaraka Day Substitute Holiday
1 June 2024SaturdayMadaraka Day
1 May 2024WednesdayLabour Day
1 April 2024MondayEaster Monday
29 March 2024FridayGood Friday
11 March 2024MondayEid al-Fitr *
1 January 2024MondayNew Year's Day

2023

Public holidays in 2023
DateDayHoliday
26 December 2023TuesdayBoxing Day
25 December 2023MondayChristmas Day
12 December 2023TuesdayJamhuri Day
13 November 2023MondayDiwali Substitute Holiday
12 November 2023SundayDiwali **
20 October 2023FridayMashujaa Day
10 October 2023TuesdayMazingira Day
29 June 2023ThursdayEid al-Adha *
1 June 2023ThursdayMadaraka Day
1 May 2023MondayLabour Day
10 April 2023MondayEaster Monday
7 April 2023FridayGood Friday
23 March 2023ThursdayEid al-Fitr *
2 January 2023MondayNew Year Substitute Holiday
1 January 2023SundayNew Year's Day

2022

Public holidays in 2022
DateDayHoliday
27 December 2022TuesdayBoxing Day Substitute Holiday
26 December 2022MondayChristmas Day Substitute Holiday
25 December 2022SundayChristmas Day
12 December 2022MondayJamhuri Day
26 October 2022WednesdayDiwali **
20 October 2022ThursdayMashujaa Day
10 October 2022MondayMazingira Day
10 July 2022SundayEid al-Adha *
1 June 2022WednesdayMadaraka Day
2 May 2022MondayLabour Day Substitute Holiday
1 May 2022SundayLabour Day
29 April 2022FridayPublic Mourning — State Funeral of former President Mwai Kibaki †
18 April 2022MondayEaster Monday
15 April 2022FridayGood Friday
3 March 2022ThursdayEid al-Fitr *
3 January 2022MondayNew Year Substitute Holiday
1 January 2022SaturdayNew Year's Day

2021

Public holidays in 2021
DateDayHoliday
26 December 2021SundayBoxing Day
25 December 2021SaturdayChristmas Day
13 December 2021MondayJamhuri Day Substitute Holiday
12 December 2021SundayJamhuri Day
4 November 2021ThursdayDiwali **
20 October 2021WednesdayMashujaa Day
11 October 2021MondayMazingira Day Substitute Holiday
10 October 2021SundayMazingira Day
20 July 2021TuesdayEid al-Adha *
1 June 2021TuesdayMadaraka Day
1 May 2021SaturdayLabour Day
5 April 2021MondayEaster Monday
2 April 2021FridayGood Friday
13 March 2021SaturdayEid al-Fitr *
1 January 2021FridayNew Year's Day

2020

Public holidays in 2020
DateDayHoliday
26 December 2020SaturdayBoxing Day
25 December 2020FridayChristmas Day
12 December 2020SaturdayJamhuri Day
14 November 2020SaturdayDiwali **
20 October 2020TuesdayMashujaa Day
10 October 2020SaturdayMazingira Day
31 July 2020FridayEid al-Adha *
1 June 2020MondayMadaraka Day
1 May 2020FridayLabour Day
13 April 2020MondayEaster Monday
10 April 2020FridayGood Friday
20 March 2020FridayEid al-Fitr *
11 February 2020TuesdayPublic Mourning — Death of former President Daniel arap Moi †
1 January 2020WednesdayNew Year's Day
Understanding public holidays in Kenya

Public holidays in Kenya are governed by the Employment Act, 2007 and the Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110).

How public holidays are declared

Permanent public holidays are established in law. Additional or one-off holidays may be declared through an official Gazette Notice issued by the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Interior and National Administration.

Once a holiday has been gazetted, it carries the same legal effect as any other national public holiday.

Employee rights on public holidays

  • Employees are entitled to a paid day off on public holidays.
  • Employers cannot deduct salary because a workplace closes for a holiday.
  • If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a public holiday automatically.
  • Holidays falling on Saturdays do not automatically shift unless officially gazetted.

Working during a public holiday

Employees working on a public holiday may receive:

  • Double pay for hours worked, or
  • An alternative paid day off (time off in lieu), where agreed.

Religious and community holidays

Some holidays, such as Diwali, may be designated specifically for members of a particular faith community.

Public holiday dates may change following official Gazette Notices, moon sightings, court decisions or special national declarations by the Government of Kenya.

Published: 22 May 2026 • Last updated: 2 July 2026

This information is regularly reviewed to ensure accuracy.