Interior CS Kithure Kindiki Declares Monday, June 17 a Public Holiday

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has declared Monday, June 17 a public holiday.

The holiday has been declared to mark Eid-Al-Adha.

“It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act, declares Monday, June 17, 2024, shall be a public holiday to mark Eid –  Al – Adha,” the notice dated June 14,  reads.

The celebration of Eid–ul–Adha is to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. 

The Feast of Sacrifice is one of Islam’s two most important holidays.

The holiday celebrates the time when Ibrahim had a dream which he believed was a message from Allah asking him to sacrifice his son Isma’il as an act of obedience to God.

The devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey Allah and spare his son.

As Ibrahim was about to kill his son, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice instead.

In some countries, Muslims sacrifice a sheep or goat and the meat is shared equally between family, friends and the poor.

Eid usually starts with Muslims going to the Mosque for prayers.

They dress in their best clothes and thank Allah for all the blessings they have received.

It is also a time when they visit family and friends.

Muslims will also give money to charity so that poor people can celebrate too.

Eid-Al-Adha is especially significant because it marks the end of the annual Hajj or Pilgrimage to Mecca, celebrated in the final month of the (lunar) Islamic calendar.