Kimani Ichung’wah wants Utamaduni Day holiday removed

The Kikuyu Member of Parliament aims to amend the Public Holidays Act through the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Bill, as presented in Parliament on November 15, 2023.

“Under the Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110), the Bill proposes to amend the Public Holidays Act to remove Utamaduni Day as a public holiday,” the bill read in part.

The Act, outlines Kenya's national holidays, such as New Year's Day (January 1), Labour Day (May 1), Madaraka Day (June 1), and Mashujaa Day (October 20). 

Additionally, the Act grants the Cabinet Secretary authority to declare public holidays, either additional to the schedule or as substitutions.

“The Cabinet Secretary may at any time if he thinks fit, by notice in the Gazette, declare any day to be a public holiday either in addition to the days mentioned in the schedule or in substitution for any of those days and either throughout Kenya or in any sub-county area or part thereof, and thereupon any day so appointed shall be a public holiday in all respects as if it were a day mentioned in the schedule, in Kenya or the locality specified in the notice; and where, in any year, any day is so declared to be a public holiday in substitution for any of the days mentioned in the schedule such latter day shall in such year cease to be a public holiday in Kenya or the locality specified in the notice,” the Act reads in part.

The proposed changes by Ichung’wah also extend to the Employment Act, 2007, suggesting an exemption for the National Intelligence Service (NIS) from its application, aligning with similar exemptions for national security organs.

Furthermore, the also Bill aims to amend the Office of the Attorney-General Act, 2012, addressing inconsistencies in its operational framework. 

“The Bill proposes to amend the Office of the Attorney-General Act, 2012 to remove inconsistencies in the operational framework of the Office of the Attorney General in line with Article 156 of the Constitution that establishes the Office of the Attorney General as an independent office,” stated the proposed amendment.

In 2019, Cabinet approved renaming of Moi Day to Huduma Day. 

The latter change was initiated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta's cabinet, emphasizing a shift from commemorating Kenya's second president, Daniel Moi, to promoting service. 

In 2020, Utamaduni Day was introduced to replace Huduma Day. The holiday is meant to celebrate Kenya's cultural diversity and heritage.