Kenya Public Holidays 2025
Kenya has 12 public holidays under the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110): the 11 days in Part I of the Schedule plus Idd-ul-Azha in Part II. In 2025, Madaraka Day (1 June) falls on a Sunday, so under Section 4 the public holiday transfers to Monday 2 June and 1 June is not a public holiday. The Islamic dates are fixed by Gazette notices after moon sighting.
At a glance
Kenya has 12 official public holidays (12 days off) in 2025 and 8 long weekends; the longest break is Good Friday & Easter Monday (Apr 18 – 21, 4 days).
| Public holidays | 12 |
|---|---|
| Total days off | 12 |
| Longest break | Good Friday & Easter Monday · 4 days (Apr 18 – 21) |
| Long weekends | 8 |
Official public holidays
New Year's Day (January 1, 2025), Idd-ul-Fitr (March 31, 2025), Good Friday (April 18, 2025), Easter Monday (April 21, 2025), Labour Day (May 1, 2025), Madaraka Day (observed) (June 2, 2025), Idd-ul-Azha (June 6, 2025), Mazingira Day (October 10, 2025), Mashujaa Day (October 20, 2025), Jamhuri Day (December 12, 2025), Christmas Day (December 25, 2025), Boxing Day (December 26, 2025)
Kenya public holiday list
| 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 |
Days off in 2025
12 days
Statutory holidays
12
Sunday rule
Monday substitute
Movable Islamic holidays
2
2025 Kenya calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
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) for the Islamic community, also declared nationally by Gazette notice each year.
Section 4 of the Act contains 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. There is no substitute for Saturday holidays. In 2025 this rule moves Madaraka Day from Sunday 1 June to Monday 2 June.
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.
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Official sources & data
- The Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110), Revised Edition 2024Visit sourceKenya Law — National Council for Law Reporting
- Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXVII-No. 62: Declaration of Idd-ul-Fitr public holidayVisit sourceRepublic of Kenya
- Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXVII-No. 116: Declaration of Idd-ul-Azha public holidayVisit sourceRepublic of Kenya
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Kenya have in 2025?
Kenya has 12 public holidays in 2025: the 11 listed in Part I of the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110) plus Idd-ul-Azha in Part II. Because Madaraka Day falls on Sunday 1 June, the Act substitutes Monday 2 June as the observed day off.
What is the longest holiday break in Kenya in 2025?
The longest break in Kenya is Good Friday & Easter Monday (Apr 18 – 21, 4 days).
What are the official public holidays in Kenya in 2025?
Kenya has 12 official public holidays in 2025: New Year's Day (January 1, 2025), Idd-ul-Fitr (March 31, 2025), Good Friday (April 18, 2025), Easter Monday (April 21, 2025), Labour Day (May 1, 2025), Madaraka Day (observed) (June 2, 2025), Idd-ul-Azha (June 6, 2025), Mazingira Day (October 10, 2025), Mashujaa Day (October 20, 2025), Jamhuri Day (December 12, 2025), Christmas Day (December 25, 2025), Boxing Day (December 26, 2025).
Why is Monday 2 June 2025 a public holiday in Kenya?
Madaraka Day is 1 June, which falls on a Sunday in 2025. Under Section 4 of the Public Holidays Act, when a Part I holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as the public holiday. Therefore Monday 2 June is the observed day off.
Do Kenyan public holidays that fall on Saturday get a substitute day?
No. The Public Holidays Act only provides a Monday substitute when a Part I holiday falls on a Sunday. Saturday holidays are observed on the Saturday itself, with no extra weekday off.
When are the Islamic public holidays in Kenya in 2025?
The Cabinet Secretary declared Monday 31 March 2025 for Idd-ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan) and Friday 6 June 2025 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 difference between Madaraka Day and Jamhuri Day?
Madaraka Day on 1 June marks Kenya's attainment of internal self-rule in 1963. Jamhuri Day on 12 December marks the country's full independence and the establishment of the Republic of Kenya in 1964.
