•The Public Holidays Act, Caps 110 has listed all national holidays which are observed in Kenya.
•In 2019, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's cabinet approved the changing of names from Moi to Huduma Day.
Image: WILLISH ADUR
Utamaduni Day will cease to exist as a public holiday if an amendment by National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah is adopted.
Through the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments)(No 2) Bill, 2023 tabled in Parliament, the UDA MP wants to amend the Public Holidays Act, to do away with Utamaduni DAy which is marked on October 10.
"The bill proposes to amend the Public Holidays Act to delete the provision of Utamaduni Day as a public holiday," the bill reads in part.
The Public Holidays Act, Caps 110 has listed all national holidays which are observed in Kenya.
They include; New Year's Day ( January 1), Good Friday and Easter Monday ( March or April), Labour Day ( May 1), Madaraka ( June 1), Idd-ul-Fitr (Date depending upon the appearance of the moon), Utamaduni Day ( October 10), Mashujaa(October 20), Jamhuri(December 12), Christmas( December 25), Boxing(December 26) and Idd-ul-Azha (date depending upon the appearance of the moon).
This year, Utamaduni Day was marked with a national event in over one and a half decades of uncertainty on the October holiday since former President Daniel Moi retired.
Before it became Utamaduni Day, it was marked as Moi Day.
In 2017, this day was restored by way of a court ruling, earning its place on the holidays set in Kenya.
A lawyer named Gregory Nyauchi had filed an appeal challenging the removal of Moi Day as a public holiday.
Nyauchi had contended elimination of the holiday had a knock-on effect that prevented employees from receiving their benefits as outlined in the Employment Act.
With its return, in 2017, the day resumed being marked as a public holiday with no official celebrations at the national level.
In 2019, former President Uhuru Kenyatta's cabinet approved the changing of names from Moi Day to Huduma Day.