Diwali holiday: CS Matiangi, Ministry of Interior speaks on Gazette Notice

The Ministry of Interior has responded to a widely circulated document resembling a Kenya Gazette notice on the upcoming Diwali celebrations.

The Ministry led by CS Fred Matiang'i has clarified that the document is a fake and the day remains a normal working day.

"Kindly ignore a gazette notice circulating on social media claiming Monday 28th October 2019 to be a public holiday. Monday 28th remains a normal working day," a statement from the Ministry read.

Monday Diwali celebration is not a public holiday - CS Fred Matiangi's Ministry of Interior declares Pulse Live Kenya

Diwali is a week-long festival that is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists. It is also known as the festival of lights.

This year's event will be marked on Sunday, therefore, some assumed that the observation of the day would be pushed to Monday as was the case with the recent Mashujaa Day commemoration.

Is Diwali a Public Holiday in Kenya?

The Public Holidays Act Cap.110 of the Kenyan Constitution lists Diwali as a recognized public holiday under Part 3 of the Schedule.

"The days specified in Part III of the Schedule shall, in addition to the days specified in Part I thereof, in every year be public holidays for all persons belonging to the Hindu faith," the law outlines.

The law, however, gives the CS in charge of the Ministry of Interior the power to declare any day, in addition to those outlined in the Constitution, as a public holiday.