The Ministry of Interior has disowned a gazette notice doing rounds on social media purporting to declare Monday, October 24, 2022, as a public holiday to celebrate Diwali.
In a statement on Sunday, October 23, the ministry said the notice bearing the name of outgoing Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i was fake and urged members of the public to ignore it.
"Our attention has been drawn to a purported Gazette notice issued by the Ministry of Interior declaring Monday 24th October 2022 a public holiday.
"Members of the public are advised that this is FAKE notice that should be ignored," the ministry said in a tweet.
Our attention has been drawn to a purported Gazette notice issued by @InteriorKE declaring Monday 24th October 2022 a public holiday.
Members of the public are advised that this is FAKE notice that should be ignored. pic.twitter.com/yPKzTO03J7— Ministry of Interior | Kenya (@InteriorKE) October 23, 2022
Diwali fete
Diwali is a Hindu religious festival of lights and is one of the key festivals within Hinduism.
Diwali festival, held in the period of October to November, is celebrated in many countries where Indian and Hindus have a good presence and native people also love to join and celebrate the celebration of joy and happiness.
There are more than fifteen countries where people celebrate Diwali. Some of the countries include India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Fiji, Mauritius, and Indonesia among others.
There were speculations that the government could declare Monday a public holiday to allow Hindus in Kenya to join other countries in the celebrations.
Monday not public holiday
Earlier, a source in the Ministry of Interior told The Standard that Monday will be a normal working day.
“Monday (October 24) will be a normal workday. The government won’t gazette it as a public holiday,” the official said.
“It could be an occasion celebrated by Hindus in Kenya and other parts of the world, but as per the government’s holidays calendar, it won’t be celebrated by all Kenyans countrywide,” added the informant.
