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21 April 2023, not 24 April, has been declared a public holiday in Kenya

IN SHORT: A convincing replica of the Kenya Gazette is circulating on Facebook, claiming that the holiday which marks the end of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, will be celebrated in the country on Monday 24 April. But it’s fake, and out by three days.

The end of the holy month of Ramadan is marked by Eid al-Fitr, also known as Idd al-Fitr. It is one of the two biggest celebrations in the Islamic year, celebrated by Muslims worldwide, and means “festival of the breaking of the fast”. 

As Kenyan Muslims prepare to break their dawn-to-sunset fasting, an image of what appears to be the Kenya Gazette, the government’s official publication, has surfaced on Facebook. 

The notice, dated 19 April 2023, reads: "It is notified for general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 (1) of the Public Holidays Act, declares Monday, 24th April, 2023, shall be a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr."

It appears to have been signed by Kithure Kindiki, the cabinet secretary for the country’s interior ministry.

This image has been shared here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

But has Monday 24 April been declared a public holiday in Kenya to celebrate Eid al-Fitr? We checked.

KenyaGazette_Fake

Friday 21 April declared public holiday 

On 19 April Kindike announced on Twitter that Friday 21 April had been declared a public holiday for Eid Al-Fitr.

He tweeted, on his official Twitter page: “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 (1) of the Public Holidays Act, I declare Friday, 21st April, 2023, shall be a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr.” 

Kindike also posted the official gazette notice.

The gazette notice number 90, declaring 21 April a public holiday, can also be found on the Kenya Law website. This is the only notice published on the website dated 19 April. 

The notice circulating on social media, saying the holiday will be celebrated on 24 April, is fake.

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