Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah is proposing the removal of Utamaduni Day, a public holiday celebrated on October 10.

The National Assembly majority leader 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,” read part of the bill.

Kenya's national holidays, including Mashujaa Day (October 20), Madaraka Day (June 1), Labour Day (May 1), and New Year's Day (January 1), are outlined in the Act.

The Act also gives the Cabinet Secretary the power to announce public holidays in addition to or instead of those already listed on the schedule.

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“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 National Intelligence Service (NIS) may be excluded from the Employment Act of 2007 according to Ichung'wah's proposed amendments, which are consistent with exclusions for other national security agencies.

Additionally, the Bill seeks to correct inconsistent provisions in the Office of the Attorney-General Act, 2012 by amending its operating 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, the Cabinet approved the 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.