Thursday declared Public Holiday as Kenya hosts Pope Francis

Pope Francis

Kenya: The Government has declared November 26 a Public Holiday and a National Day of Prayer and Reflection as Kenya hosts Pope Francis.

“As we are privileged to be hosting His Holiness the Pope at the time, he will set the tone for the day”, State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said in statement sent to newsrooms Tuesday.

The Pope is scheduled to arrive in Nairobi on Wednesday evening for a three-day visit, the first leg of his historic African tour.

He is set to touch down at The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 5pm.

The three-day papal visit will be a milestone for Kenya. Pope John Paul II visited Kenya in 1980, 1985 and 1995.

During his visit, Pope Francis will celebrate mass with Kenyans and hold various meetings with President Uhuru Kenyatta, religious leaders, the youth,  members of the diplomatic Corp and spend time with the less fortunate members of society.

Pope Francis will be in Kenya for three days before departing to Uganda and thereafter the Central African Republic.