US Embassy in Nairobi/FILE
The Embassy of the United States, Nairobi, will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of the United States' Independence Day holiday.
In a notice, the embassy said all its offices would remain closed for the day as Americans mark Independence Day.
Although Independence Day is celebrated annually on July 4, the holiday is being observed on Friday, July 3, this year because July 4 falls on a Saturday.
The embassy is expected to resume normal operations after
the holiday.
"The U.S Embassy in Kenya will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026, in observance of Independence Day!"
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is the national holiday of the United States. It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, when the 13 American colonies formally declared their independence from Great Britain, marking the birth of the United States as a sovereign nation.
Although the Continental Congress voted in favour of independence on July 2, 1776, it formally adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4.
Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson and later revised by Congress, the document outlined the colonies' reasons for breaking away from British rule under King George III.
Today, Independence Day is one of the most important holidays in the United States. It is marked by fireworks, parades, concerts, community festivals, barbecues, picnics, sporting events and family gatherings, alongside official ceremonies celebrating the country's history, values and democratic traditions.
When July 4 falls on a Saturday, as it does this year, the federal holiday is officially observed on the preceding Friday, July 3, resulting in the closure of U.S. government offices, including embassies and consulates around the world.
