Election Day, August 9 Declared A Public Holiday

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug, 4 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i has declared Tuesday, August 9 2022 a public holiday via a gazette notice.

Tuesday will be election day, as millions of Kenyans head to the ballot to elect their leaders.

“IT IS notified for information to the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Co-ordination of National Government, pursuant to and in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 (4) of the Public Holidays Act, read together with Articles 101 (1), 177 (1) (a) and 180 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, declares Tuesday, 9th August, 2022, as a public holiday to afford the people of Kenya the opportunity to participate in the 2022 general elections of Members of Parliament, Members of County Assemblies and County Governors,” read the gazette notice.

Already scores of Kenyans have traveled up country where they are expected to cast their votes while those in urban centers equally prepare for election day.

Earlier this week, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha directed the closure of schools this past Tuesday.

Schools are expected to be closed for one week.

“As you are aware, Kenya is scheduled to conduct its national elections on Tuesday 9 August 2022. Therefore, following consultation, I hereby convey the Government’s decision on the immediate closure of all basic education institutions from Tuesday 2 until Wednesday 10 August to ensure that preparations and conduct of upcoming elections are carried out seamlessly,” read a section of a statement from Magoha.

The directive comes as a shock to parents and stakeholders in the education sector as schools were set to go on a break this Friday.

Alternatively, learners are now expected to return to school on Thursday, August 11, 2022.

“This communication supersedes any earlier communication on the closure of basic education institutions,” he said.

According to the academic calendar, this school term has 10 weeks.

The second term is expected to end on September 16, 2022.

The academic calendar could possibly be affected even further depending on the outcome of this year’s elections.