Utamaduni Day: Monday 10 October Declared A Public Holiday

NAIROBI, Kenya, October, 7 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has declared Monday, October 10 2022 a public holiday.

Kenyans will celebrate the second Utamaduni day since it was conceptualized.

The notification for the public holiday was issued in line with Section (1) and 4 and part One of the schedule of Public Holidays Act (Cap 10) and pursuant to the declaration of the High Court of November 6, 2017 (Judicial Review of 2017: Republic vs Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security ex-party Gregory Oriaro Ncyauchi and court others.)

“Let’s celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Kenya in a manner that promotes our unity, national cohesion, and economic progress,” said Matiang’i.

Kenyans have traditionally for decades marked October 10 as Moi day.

In 2019, Moi day was initially renamed Huduma Day in changes approved by the cabinet. They resolved that the decision was in line with the former president’s desire for service and volunteerism.

A government-sponsored bill in 2020 sought to rename Moi day as Utamaduni day. The changes were contained in the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill, 2020, sponsored by the former Majority leader of the National Assembly Aden Duale.

Years after the promulgation of the new constitution (2010) Moi day was removed as a public holiday.

A court ruling in November 2017 reinstated the day on grounds that its removal was in contravention of the Public Holidays Act.

“Although Moi Day was not a national day, the celebration of that day as a public holiday did not contravene the Constitution,” Ruled Justice George Odunga.

Odunga ruled that failure to observe the day would be an illegality and breach of the Public Holidays Act unless parliament changed the law or the Cabinet Secretary responsible substituted the day with another.