Matiang'i yet to declare Moi Day a public holiday

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has not declared October 10, 2019, a public holiday to mark Moi Day.

A number of Kenyans were misled by a statement which was widely shared on Tuesday but was dated October 2018.

Through the statement, the CS noted that there was increased debate on whether Moi Day should be celebrated but referred to Judicial Review No. 292 of 2017 where the Court affirmed that the 10th of October will be observed as a public holiday.

He, however, clarified that Moi Day is not among the national days recognized under Article 9 (3) of the Constitution.

Further, Matiang’i said that as an emerging economy, Kenyans need to use their time working and building the nation.

“It is worth mentioning the fact that as an emerging economy we need to optimally utilize our time working and building the nation and this might have advised the reduction of public holidays through amendments,” said the CS.

Justice George Odunga in his ruling on November 8, 2017 said the scrapping of Moi Day was an illegality and was in contravention of the law.

“I hereby grant a declaration that the omission to have the 10th day of October observed as a public holiday is an illegality and in contravention of Section 2(1) as read with part 1 of the schedule to the Public Holidays Act,” stated Odunga in part of his ruling.

He, however, gave an outline on how Moi Day can be formally scrapped.

“Unless and until parliament amends Schedule 1 of the said Act or the minister substitutes the same for another date, the 10th of October in each year shall continue being a public holiday,” he said.