Public holidays in Kenya are days when offices and many services close, and when many Kenyans travel. It helps to know when they fall before you fix your dates.
Fixed-date holidays
- New Year’s Day: 1 January.
- Labour Day: 1 May.
- Madaraka Day: 1 June.
- Mazingira Day: 10 October. This date has carried several names over the years, including Moi Day, Huduma Day and Utamaduni Day.
- Mashujaa Day: 20 October. It was formerly called Kenyatta Day.
- Jamhuri Day: 12 December. Kenya became independent on 12 December 1963 and a republic on 12 December 1964.
- Christmas Day: 25 December.
- Boxing Day: 26 December.
Holidays that move
- Good Friday and Easter Monday: the dates change each year with Easter.
- Eid al-Fitr: the date depends on the sighting of the moon. Eid al-Adha is also commonly listed among the holidays.
Check the official Kenya Gazette notice for the exact dates in your year of travel.
When a holiday falls on a Sunday
Under the Public Holidays Act, when a holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day that is not already a holiday becomes the public holiday.
Planning your safari around them
Holiday weekends and the Christmas and Easter periods are popular for domestic and international travel, so book early. See when to book a Kenya safari, Kenya in December and Kenya in October. Banks, government offices and some shops close on public holidays, so plan any errands, money changes and permits before you travel. See Kenya money guide.
Our office
Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and we handle online enquiries around the clock.
What the main national days mean
- Madaraka Day (1 June): marks 1 June 1963, when Kenya gained internal self-rule after being a British colony since 1920. Kenya did not become a full republic until 12 December 1964.
- Mashujaa Day (20 October): honours people who contributed to the struggle for independence or to the country after independence. It was formerly Kenyatta Day, which marked the detention of the Kapenguria Six, and was renamed after the August 2010 constitution.
- Jamhuri Day (12 December): Jamhuri is the Swahili word for republic. The day recalls independence in 1963 and Jomo Kenyatta’s inauguration as president of the republic in 1964. The Kenya Defence Forces hold a Trooping of the Colour ceremony.
Since 2015, Madaraka Day and Mashujaa Day have been hosted in a different county each year instead of always in Nairobi, to strengthen national unity.
Christmas travel
Many urban Kenyans travel to rural hometowns to spend Christmas with family, and nyama choma is a traditional Christmas meal. Expect busier roads and transport around the holiday.
Frequently asked questions
Which Kenyan public holidays are on fixed dates?
New Year’s Day (1 January), Labour Day (1 May), Madaraka Day (1 June), Mazingira Day (10 October), Mashujaa Day (20 October), Jamhuri Day (12 December), Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Which holidays change each year?
Good Friday, Easter Monday and Eid al-Fitr move each year. Eid depends on the sighting of the moon.
What if a holiday falls on a Sunday?
The next day that is not already a holiday becomes the public holiday.
Is Utamaduni Day still a holiday?
The 10 October holiday is now called Mazingira Day. Utamaduni Day was one of its earlier names.
What does Jamhuri mean?
It is the Swahili word for republic. Jamhuri Day on 12 December recalls independence in 1963 and the republic in 1964.
What does Madaraka Day mark?
1 June 1963, when Kenya gained internal self-rule.
Was Mashujaa Day always called that?
No. It was Kenyatta Day until the 2010 constitution.
Want help planning? Talk to our team and tell us your dates, who is travelling and what you would like to see.
Facts checked on 5 November 2026 from Wikipedia’s Public holidays in Kenya, OfficeHolidays and a 2019 news summary of the gazetted list. Names and dates are changed by law from time to time, so confirm in the Kenya Gazette.
