Kenya Public Holidays 2027
Kenya is expected to keep 13 public holidays in 2027: the 12 days in the Schedule to the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110), plus the general election on Tuesday 10 August, which Section 2(4) makes a public holiday. Mazingira Day (10 October), Jamhuri Day (12 December) and Boxing Day (26 December) fall on Sundays, so the holidays transfer to the Mondays after them and those Sundays are not public holidays. The Islamic dates are provisional until confirmed by moon sighting and Gazette notices.
At a glance
Kenya has 13 official public holidays (13 days off) in 2027 and 5 long weekends; the longest break is Good Friday & Easter Monday (Mar 26 – 29, 4 days).
Provisional — pending official confirmation
| Public holidays | 13 |
|---|---|
| Total days off | 13 |
| Longest break | Good Friday & Easter Monday · 4 days (Mar 26 – 29) |
| Long weekends | 5 |
Official public holidays
New Year's Day (January 1, 2027), Idd-ul-Fitr (March 9, 2027), Good Friday (March 26, 2027), Easter Monday (March 29, 2027), Labour Day (May 1, 2027), Idd-ul-Azha (May 16, 2027), Madaraka Day (June 1, 2027), General Election Day (August 10, 2027), Mazingira Day (observed) (October 11, 2027), Mashujaa Day (October 20, 2027), Jamhuri Day (observed) (December 13, 2027), Christmas Day (December 25, 2027), Boxing Day (observed) (December 27, 2027)
Kenya public holiday list
| 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 |
Days off in 2027
13 days
Gazetted holidays
12
Sunday substitutions
3
General election
Aug 10 (Tue)
2027 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), declared nationally by Gazette notice each year after moon sighting, and Part III adds Diwali as a public holiday for persons of the Hindu faith. Section 2(4) and 2(5) also make a general-election polling day and the day a President-elect is sworn in public holidays.
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. This rule does not apply to Part II holidays or to Saturday holidays. In 2027, Mazingira Day (10 October), Jamhuri Day (12 December) and Boxing Day (26 December) fall on Sundays, so the holidays transfer to Mondays 11 October, 13 December and 27 December — and the table above lists those Mondays only, because the Sundays are not public holidays.
Provisional dates for 2027
The fixed-date holidays for 2027 are computed from the calendar, but the official Gazette notices that confirm them are not yet published. The Islamic dates are astronomical predictions for 1 Shawwal 1448 AH (Idd-ul-Fitr) and 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH (Idd-ul-Azha). Kenya confirms these by moon sighting, so the actual dates may shift by one day. Kenya also goes to the polls in 2027: the IEBC has set Tuesday 10 August as polling day, which Section 2(4) makes a public holiday, and a presidential run-off or the President-elect's swearing-in would add further holidays under Sections 2(4) and 2(5) once dated. Treat this calendar as provisional until the Gazette notices are issued.
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Official sources & data
- The Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110), Revised Edition 2024Visit sourceKenya Law — National Council for Law Reporting
- IEBC sets August 10, 2027 as General Election dateVisit sourceThe Standard (IEBC election calendar, 24 June 2026)
- Hijri Calendar 1448 AH (1 Shawwal = 9 Mar 2027; 10 Dhu al-Hijjah = 16 May 2027)Visit sourceTrueCalendar — Umm al-Qura table (cross-check)
- National Holidays in Kenya in 2027Visit sourceOffice Holidays (cross-check)
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Kenya have in 2027?
Thirteen, on the current schedule: the 12 days in the Public Holidays Act Schedule (11 in Part I plus Idd-ul-Azha in Part II), and the general election on Tuesday 10 August, which Section 2(4) makes a public holiday. Because Mazingira Day, Jamhuri Day and Boxing Day fall on Sundays, their holidays transfer to the following Mondays and those Sundays are not public holidays.
What is the longest holiday break in Kenya in 2027?
The longest break in Kenya is Good Friday & Easter Monday (Mar 26 – 29, 4 days).
What are the official public holidays in Kenya in 2027?
Kenya has 13 official public holidays in 2027: New Year's Day (January 1, 2027), Idd-ul-Fitr (March 9, 2027), Good Friday (March 26, 2027), Easter Monday (March 29, 2027), Labour Day (May 1, 2027), Idd-ul-Azha (May 16, 2027), Madaraka Day (June 1, 2027), General Election Day (August 10, 2027), Mazingira Day (observed) (October 11, 2027), Mashujaa Day (October 20, 2027), Jamhuri Day (observed) (December 13, 2027), Christmas Day (December 25, 2027), Boxing Day (observed) (December 27, 2027).
Why are some 2027 Kenya holidays marked as provisional?
The fixed-date holidays are computed from the calendar, but the Cabinet Secretary's Gazette notices that formally confirm them are not yet issued. The Islamic holidays depend on the sighting of the new crescent moon and can shift by one day. This page will be updated once the official notices are published.
Which 2027 Kenya holidays are affected by the Sunday rule?
Mazingira Day (10 October), Jamhuri Day (12 December) and Boxing Day (26 December) fall on Sundays in 2027. Under Section 4 of the Public Holidays Act the holiday moves to the first following day that is not already a public holiday, so the public holidays are Mondays 11 October, 13 December and 27 December — the Sundays themselves cease to be holidays. Labour Day (1 May) and Christmas Day (25 December) fall on Saturdays and are not moved.
When are the Islamic public holidays in Kenya in 2027?
Based on astronomical calculations, Idd-ul-Fitr is expected on Tuesday 9 March 2027 and Idd-ul-Azha on Sunday 16 May 2027. These are provisional until the Cabinet Secretary confirms the exact dates by Gazette notice after moon sighting.
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. In 2027, Labour Day (1 May) and Christmas Day (25 December) fall on Saturdays and are observed on those Saturdays, with no extra weekday off.
