Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thangwa has gained attention for his proposed changes to the Public Holidays Amendment Bill, which aims to establish a continuous two-day national holiday. Under this proposal, if a holiday falls on a Tuesday, Monday would also be designated as a holiday, and if a holiday falls on a Thursday, the holiday would extend to Friday.
Some Kenyans criticized the senator, arguing that he should focus on addressing economic matters rather than public holidays.
According to Section 4 of The Public Holidays Act, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is deferred to the next non-public holiday day, typically Monday. If Monday is already a holiday, the holiday is then moved to Tuesday.
Senator Karungo has recently put forth a proposal to amend the Public Holidays Bill, suggesting the implementation of continuous two-day national holidays in Kenya. According to his proposal, if a holiday falls on a Tuesday, Monday would also be designated as a holiday. Similarly, if a holiday falls on a Thursday, the holiday would extend to Friday.
The senator expressed these sentiments shortly after the government celebrated Madaraka Day in Embu. He believes Kenyans should be given ample time to commemorate public holidays, as one day is insufficient for a proper celebration.
Traditionally, public holidays in Kenya have been observed on weekdays, and if a holiday falls on a weekend, it is shifted to a weekday to ensure that Kenyans have sufficient time to celebrate. However, the proposal made by Senator Karungo regarding continuous two-day national holidays has garnered mixed reactions from the public.
Many Kenyans are now eagerly awaiting the legislators' decision on whether to consider and approve Senator Karungo's bill, potentially extending the duration of holidays. However, it is worth noting that there is opposition to the idea, as some individuals argue that it may disrupt their daily activities to have a two-day break for a single holiday.
