Kenya: June 15 declared public holiday amid Eid al-Fitr /update 1

Event

The government has declared Friday, June 15, a public holiday to allow Muslim citizens to make preparations to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the feast marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan, which began in mid-May, will come to an end in Kenya at sundown on the evening of June 15. As such, various operations (commercial, business, stock, public services) will be affected June 15-16, especially in Muslim-majority areas as Muslims gather to pray and celebrate with family and friends. As this period is typically marked by increased travel, heavy road traffic after sundown along with other transportation disruptions (crowded airports, etc.) is to be anticipated.

Context

Eid al-Fitr celebrates the conclusion of 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting and remains one of the most important dates on the Muslim calendar. Generally speaking, the month of Ramadan is historically marred by a significant increase in terrorist threats and as such there is a potential for attacks to be carried out during Eid celebrations.

Advice

Individuals in Kenya are advised to allow for additional travel time, to remain vigilant, and to avoid large public gatherings.