KAMPALA, Uganda — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has declared Wednesday, May 27, 2026, a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Adha.
The declaration was published through a special issue of the Kenya Gazette dated May 25, 2026, formalising the nationwide observance of the Islamic festival.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3(1) of the Public Holidays Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares that Wednesday, the 27th May, shall be a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Adha,” Murkomen said in the notice.
Eid-ul-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most significant celebrations in the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide through prayers, charity, and family gatherings.
The festival commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, before a ram was provided as a substitute.
It falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, and coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
In Kenya, Muslims mark the day with special congregational prayers held in mosques and open grounds early in the morning, followed by communal celebrations.
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Families also observe the tradition of animal sacrifice, typically goats, sheep, cattle, or camels, with the meat distributed among relatives, neighbours, and the less fortunate as an act of charity.
Eid-ul-Adha is widely regarded as a celebration of faith, sacrifice, generosity, and unity within the Muslim community.
The public holiday allows Muslim faithful across Kenya time to observe the occasion with family, worship, and community activities.
