Kenya Public Holidays (2025–2028)
Kenya has 12 public holidays in 2026 under the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110). No fixed-date holiday falls on a Sunday, so no Sunday-substitution is needed. The Islamic dates are fixed by Gazette notices after moon sighting.
Kenya public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | Idd-ul-FitrThe Cabinet Secretary declared Friday 20 March 2026 a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr, following the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good FridayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 27, 2026 | Wednesday | Idd-ul-AzhaThe Cabinet Secretary declared Wednesday 27 May 2026 a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Azha (Eid al-Adha), following the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 1, 2026 | Monday | Madaraka DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| October 10, 2026 | Saturday | Mazingira DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| October 20, 2026 | Tuesday | Mashujaa DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 12, 2026 | Saturday | Jamhuri DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Boxing DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
Days off in 2026
12 days
Statutory holidays
12
Sunday substitutions
None
Movable Islamic holidays
2
2026 Kenya calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
Public holidays by year
Every published year for this country at a glance.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | Wednesday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 31, 2025 | Monday | Idd-ul-FitrThe Cabinet Secretary declared Monday 31 March 2025 a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr, following the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 18, 2025 | Friday | Good FridayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| April 21, 2025 | Monday | Easter MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2025 | Thursday | Labour DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| June 2, 2025 | Monday | Madaraka Day (observed)Madaraka Day is 1 June, which falls on a Sunday in 2025. Under Section 4 of the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110), when a Part I holiday falls on a Sunday the first succeeding day that is not already a public holiday becomes the public holiday, and the Sunday itself ceases to be one — so Monday 2 June is the day off, not 1 June.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| June 6, 2025 | Friday | Idd-ul-AzhaThe Cabinet Secretary declared Friday 6 June 2025 a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Azha (Eid al-Adha), following the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| October 10, 2025 | Friday | Mazingira DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| October 20, 2025 | Monday | Mashujaa DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 12, 2025 | Friday | Jamhuri DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2025 | Thursday | Christmas DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 26, 2025 | Friday | Boxing DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | Idd-ul-FitrThe Cabinet Secretary declared Friday 20 March 2026 a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr, following the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good FridayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 27, 2026 | Wednesday | Idd-ul-AzhaThe Cabinet Secretary declared Wednesday 27 May 2026 a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Azha (Eid al-Adha), following the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 1, 2026 | Monday | Madaraka DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| October 10, 2026 | Saturday | Mazingira DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| October 20, 2026 | Tuesday | Mashujaa DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 12, 2026 | Saturday | Jamhuri DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Boxing DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2027 | Friday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 9, 2027 | Tuesday | Idd-ul-FitrProvisional date based on astronomical calculation of 1 Shawwal 1448 AH. The Cabinet Secretary will confirm the exact date after moon sighting, usually by Gazette notice shortly before Ramadan ends.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| March 26, 2027 | Friday | Good FridayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 29, 2027 | Monday | Easter MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2027 | Saturday | Labour DayLabour Day falls on a Saturday in 2027. The Public Holidays Act only provides a Monday substitute for Part I holidays that fall on a Sunday, so there is no extra weekday off.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 16, 2027 | Sunday | Idd-ul-AzhaProvisional date based on astronomical calculation of 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH. Idd-ul-Azha is in Part II of the Schedule, so even if it falls on a Sunday, the Public Holidays Act's Sunday-substitution rule does not apply. The Cabinet Secretary will confirm the date by Gazette notice after moon sighting.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 1, 2027 | Tuesday | Madaraka DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| August 10, 2027 | Tuesday | General Election DaySection 2(4) of the Public Holidays Act makes the day a general election is held a public holiday, and the IEBC has set Tuesday 10 August 2027 as polling day for the 2027 general election (campaigning 29 May to 7 August). A presidential run-off, if one is required, and the President-elect's swearing-in day are public holidays under Sections 2(4) and 2(5) too, but neither date is fixed yet — expect the total for 2027 to rise.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| October 11, 2027 | Monday | Mazingira Day (observed)Mazingira Day is 10 October, which falls on a Sunday in 2027. Under Section 4 of the Public Holidays Act the holiday transfers to the first following day that is not already a public holiday — so Monday 11 October is the day off, and Sunday 10 October is not a public holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| October 20, 2027 | Wednesday | Mashujaa DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 13, 2027 | Monday | Jamhuri Day (observed)Jamhuri Day is 12 December, which falls on a Sunday in 2027. Under Section 4 of the Public Holidays Act the holiday transfers to the first following day that is not already a public holiday — so Monday 13 December is the day off, and Sunday 12 December is not a public holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| December 25, 2027 | Saturday | Christmas DayChristmas Day falls on a Saturday in 2027. The Public Holidays Act only provides a Monday substitute for Part I holidays that fall on a Sunday, so there is no extra weekday off.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 27, 2027 | Monday | Boxing Day (observed)Boxing Day is 26 December, which falls on a Sunday in 2027. Under Section 4 of the Public Holidays Act the holiday transfers to the first following day that is not already a public holiday — so Monday 27 December is the day off, and Sunday 26 December is not a public holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2028 | Saturday | New Year's DayNew Year's Day falls on a Saturday in 2028. The Public Holidays Act only provides a Monday substitute for Part I holidays that fall on a Sunday, so there is no extra weekday off.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| February 26, 2028 | Saturday | Idd-ul-FitrProvisional: the Umm al-Qura tables put 1 Shawwal 1449 AH on Saturday 26 February 2028, and a Saturday holiday gets no substitute under the Act. Kenya fixes the date by local moon sighting, so if 1 Shawwal is confirmed on Sunday 27 February, Section 4 transfers the public holiday to Monday 28 February and the Sunday itself ceases to be one. Check the Cabinet Secretary's Gazette notice before relying on this date.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 14, 2028 | Friday | Good FridayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| April 17, 2028 | Monday | Easter MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2028 | Monday | Labour DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 5, 2028 | Friday | Idd-ul-AzhaProvisional date based on astronomical calculation of 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1449 AH. Idd-ul-Azha is in Part II of the Schedule, so even if it falls on a Sunday, the Public Holidays Act's Sunday-substitution rule does not apply. The Cabinet Secretary will confirm the date by Gazette notice after moon sighting.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 1, 2028 | Thursday | Madaraka DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| October 10, 2028 | Tuesday | Mazingira DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| October 20, 2028 | Friday | Mashujaa DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 12, 2028 | Tuesday | Jamhuri DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2028 | Monday | Christmas DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 26, 2028 | Tuesday | Boxing DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
How Kenyan public holidays work
Kenya's public holidays are set by the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110). Part I of the Schedule lists 11 fixed or computable holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Madaraka Day, Idd-ul-Fitr, Mazingira Day, Mashujaa Day, Jamhuri Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Part II adds Idd-ul-Azha (Eid al-Adha), which is declared nationally by Gazette notice each year after moon sighting.
Section 4 of the Act provides a Sunday-substitution rule: if a Part I holiday falls on a Sunday, the first following day that is not already a public holiday becomes the public holiday, and the Sunday itself ceases to be one. In 2026 no fixed-date holiday falls on a Sunday, so all holidays are kept on their nominal dates. Saturday holidays are not substituted.
What the national days commemorate
Madaraka Day (1 June) marks the day in 1963 when Kenya attained internal self-government before full independence on 12 December. Jamhuri Day (12 December) celebrates the establishment of the Republic of Kenya in 1964. Mashujaa Day (20 October) honours all who contributed to the struggle for independence; it was formerly known as Kenyatta Day. The 10 October holiday has been renamed several times — Moi Day, then Huduma Day, then Utamaduni Day — and the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2024 made it Mazingira Day, set aside for national environmental conservation activities.
Download & subscribe
The CSV opens directly in Excel and Google Sheets.
Official sources & data
- The Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110), Revised Edition 2024Visit sourceKenya Law — National Council for Law Reporting
- Friday, March 20, 2026, Declared Holiday To Mark Idd-ul-Fitr (reports the special Gazette Notice of 18 March 2026)Visit sourceThe Kenya Times — press report of the Kenya Gazette notice
- Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXVIII-No. 90: Declaration of Eid-ul-Adha public holidayVisit sourceRepublic of Kenya
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Kenya have in 2026?
Kenya has 12 public holidays in 2026: the 11 listed in Part I of the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110) plus Idd-ul-Azha in Part II. No fixed-date holiday falls on a Sunday, so no substitute Monday is needed.
What is the longest holiday break in Kenya in 2026?
The longest break in Kenya is Good Friday & Easter Monday (Apr 3 – 6, 4 days).
What are the official public holidays in Kenya in 2026?
Kenya has 12 official public holidays in 2026: New Year's Day (January 1, 2026), Idd-ul-Fitr (March 20, 2026), Good Friday (April 3, 2026), Easter Monday (April 6, 2026), Labour Day (May 1, 2026), Idd-ul-Azha (May 27, 2026), Madaraka Day (June 1, 2026), Mazingira Day (October 10, 2026), Mashujaa Day (October 20, 2026), Jamhuri Day (December 12, 2026), Christmas Day (December 25, 2026), Boxing Day (December 26, 2026).
When are the Islamic public holidays in Kenya in 2026?
The Cabinet Secretary declared Friday 20 March 2026 for Idd-ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan) and Wednesday 27 May 2026 for Idd-ul-Azha (Eid al-Adha). Both dates depend on the sighting of the new crescent moon and are confirmed by Gazette notices.
What is the Sunday-substitution rule in Kenya?
Section 4 of the Public Holidays Act says that if a Part I holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as the public holiday in its place. The rule does not apply to Part II holidays (Idd-ul-Azha) or to Saturday holidays.
What are the long weekends in Kenya in 2026?
Easter creates a four-day break from Good Friday 3 April through Easter Monday 6 April. Labour Day on Friday 1 May and Jamhuri Day on Saturday 12 December also extend weekends. Idd-ul-Fitr on Friday 20 March makes a three-day weekend.
What is Mazingira Day?
Mazingira Day is observed on 10 October. The day had been Huduma Day and then Utamaduni Day before the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2024 renamed it Mazingira Day, dedicated to national environmental conservation activities. "Mazingira" means "environment" in Swahili.
