This is why Monday has been declared a public holiday

The government has declared Monday, July 11, a public holiday.

In a Gazette Notice dated Friday, July 8, Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i, declared Monday a public holiday for the Muslims to celebrate Idd-Ul-Adha.

“It is notified for general information that in the exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3 as read with section 2 (2) of the Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110), the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Co-ordination of National Government declares Monday, 11th July 2022 a public holiday marking Idd-ul-Adha,” read the notice in part.Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is celebrated by Muslims all over the world as a major holiday for a period of three to four days. 

Muslims faithfuls attending a Friday prayer at the Jamia Mosque.

The majority of Muslims would attend the special prayers held at different major mosques and Islamic centers in different parts of the country.

The celebrations conclude the Pilgrimage to Mecca where Muslim faithful assemble before the official declaration.

The announcement of this festival is based on lunar sightings making the date vary from time to time.

According to the Quran, Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son Ishmael when a voice from heaven stopped him and allowed him to make a sacrifice of something else.

In the old testament, it is a ram that is sacrificed instead of the son.

During this holiday, Muslims engage in charity ventures such as offering money, food, and clothes to the needy.

The official declaration of the holiday comes after a series of misleading information was shared on different social media platforms on when the holiday was set to be gazetted.