CIPK calls for permanent Eid ul Adha public holiday

Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya(CIPK) Organizing Secretary Sheikh Muhammad Khalifa. He appealed to the government to live up to its longstanding pledge to Muslims and declare Eid ul Adha a permanent national public holiday.(Courtesy)

THE FRIDAY BULLETIN

NAIROBI—The government has been called upon to fulfill its promise to include and recognize Eid ul Adha as a national public holiday to promote religious harmony in the country.

The call was made by the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya(CIPK) Organizing Secretary Sheikh Muhammad Khalifa who appealed to the government to live up to its longstanding pledge to Muslims and declare the day a permanent national public holiday.

Sheikh Khalifa pointed out that the religious rights of Muslims are guaranteed in the country’s constitution hence the government through the Public Holiday Act should permanently recognize the day as a national public holiday instead of a temporary declaration basis as it has been the case.

He said the recognition of the day as a public holiday will foster togetherness, enhance on harmony and promote the shared aspirations, values and diversity in the Kenyan society and urged the government through the National Assembly to make Eid ul Adha among the recognized national public holidays.

Khalifa further called on the Muslim legislators to lobby for the day to be officially
recognized by the government as a national public.

“We are urging our elected leaders in the Parliament and Senate to take up the initiative by tabling a bill for Eidul Adha to be a national public holiday so that Muslims and all Kenyans can share in
the joys of this day,” Khalifa told the Friday Bulletin.

In a gazette notice issued on Friday last week Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i declared Tuesday, August 21 national public holiday to celebrate Eid ul Adha which is also known as the ‘’Festival of Sacrifice’’.

Muslims all over the world on Tuesday celebrated Eid ul Adha which falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and last month in the Islamic lunar calendar which also marks the end of Hajj pilgrimage.

The event honours the unwavering submission of Prophet Ibrahim alayhi salam to offer his only son Ismail on whom be Allah’s peace as a sacrifice in obedience to God’s instructions. As he laid Ismail to
slaughter him, Allah ransomed Ismail with a lamb sacrifice. During Eid ul Adha, Muslims sacrifice animals (a goat, sheep, cow or camel) in memory of this deed.

Under the current Public Holidays Act, Eid ul Fitr which marks the end of Ramadhan is the only Muslim national public holiday in the country. For Eid ul Adha however, it is prescribed as a public holiday “only for Muslims” and does not enjoy the status of a public holiday.