Official communication from the Interior ministry has ruled out possibility of Monday, October 24, being a public holiday amid speculation online that the government could declare the day a holiday to celebrate Diwali.
Diwali is a Hindu festival with lights, held in the period of October to November.
According to Hinduism, Diwali is particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and marks the beginning of the financial year in India.
The festival, the most important within Hinduism, usually lasts five days, or six in some regions of India, and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika.
Speculations have been rife online and even offline, that the government could declare Monday, October 24 a public holiday to mark Diwali.
Communication from Asenior communications officer at the Interior ministry has cleared air over the issue of Monday being gazzeted as a public holiday.
“Monday (October 24) will be a normal workday. The government won’t gazette it as a public holiday,” said the Interior ministry rep.
“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.