Our love affair with holidays

By Peter Ndoria

As the country was ushering in a new Constitution two months ago, the general mood was so ecstatic that few noticed that 'we' had been robbed of a national holiday.

October 10 was hitherto known as Moi Day and it was one of the national days we had alongside Madaraka, Jamhuri and Kenyatta. The other three remained, with the latter now renamed Mashujaa Day.

Kenyans have always had a special relationship with public holidays. Few even know the difference between Madaraka and Jamhuri — both very solemn national occasions — but we always remember to ‘celebrate’. ‘Celebrate’ is a euphemism for endless hours in the bar or local den, without a care in the world because you will not be seeing your boss, at least for the next 24-hours.

Who would blame us when on promulgation day, the clubs registered roaring business, the classifieds were filled with theme-show nights pre- and post-promulgation and the pubs were full of ‘promulgation beer offers’? Police reported arrests of ‘drunk and disorderly’ fellows headed to Uhuru Park to ‘celebrate’, perhaps in a show of patriotism. Oh, we love holidays!

When it was a week to Idd-Ul-Fitr, it was the non-Muslims whose Facebook updates, as early as Sunday, first read something like “Thank God for the long weekend aheadÉ sasa kutafuta mpango wa Friday”.

Declare non-holidays

When it became apparent that there would be no holiday, the Government Spokesman’s rating plummeted to new lows, with the same fellows wondering who authorised this guy to “declare non-holidays”! It was noted, with great disgust especially among those whose Facebook updates had earlier been cheery, that Bwana Alfred is not even a Muslim.

This contention was backed with research from other countries, indicating that Ugandans, Malawians, Nigerians and many others had got Friday off, why not Kenya?

Yet Bwana Alfred may not have as much to worry about as the one whose birthday we celebrate on December 25. Despite the powers that be declaring it a public holiday the world over, few remember to send goodwill messages to his last known address or at least at the nearest local place of worship.

After a night of merry-making, we ask for gifts as if it was our birthday! Alcohol is consumed in copious volumes and, well, many children are born in September.

challeging year

One week later, we are at it again celebrating the New Year. Here, we barely notice when it goes past midnight and when we come to, we declare that it has been a challenging year and that the New Year holds a lot of promise.