The cabinet secretary for Interior and Coordination Fred Matiangi has declared Monday 25th May a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr. Through a gazetted notice, the CS announced the date set aside for Muslims to celebrate the big day after the fasting period ends.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 (1) of Public Holidays Act, declares that Monday, the 25th May, 2020, shall be a Public Holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr,” the notice reads.
Idd-ul-Fitr is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. It marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month of fasting and prayer.
Most Muslims attend communal prayers, give food as charity or go out for celebrations. The government banned most public gatherings such communal prayers in mosques. Therefore, most people will have to mark the special day in other ways.
Idd-ul-Fitr is a public holiday and most schools and businesses are usually closed on this auspicious day. However, schools closed and most businesses were shut down temporarily because of the covid-19 pandemic.
