GOVERNMENT DECLARES FRIDAY, JUNE 6, A PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOR EID-UL-ADHA

The government has officially designated Friday, June 6,2025, as a public holiday in observance of  Eid-ul –Adha, the second holiest festival in the Islamic calendar. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen made the announcement through a special gazette notice, invoking powers granted under Section 2(1) of the Public Holiday Acts.

Eid-ul-Adha also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice” honors Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering devotion to Allah. According to Islamic tradition, Ibrahim was prepared to sacrifice his son, Ismail, in obedience to divine command, but Allah provided a ram as a substitute. To commemorate this act of faith, Muslims worldwide perform Qurbani (ritual sacrifice) and distribute meat to the less fortunate. The celebration occurs on the 10th day of Dhu-al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, following the sighting of the new moon and conclusio9n of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage of Mecca.

Festivities typically span two to four days beginning with congregational Eid prayers at mosques. For the Qurbani ritual, permissible animals including sheep, goats, cows, bulls or camels, each meeting specific health and age requirements. A single sheep, lamb or goat counts as one share while larger animals like camels or cows equate to seven shares. The sacrifice must be conducted in accordance with Islamic guidelines (halal).

 Eid-ul-Adha follows Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadhan. This year, Eid-ul-Fitr was observed on March 31 after a month of fasting that began on March 1.