Public holidays
Kenya: 11 public holiday dates in 2026 (11 days off) and 14 in 2027 (14 days off), with 253 working days in 2026 and 252 in 2027. National holidays only: regional ones are not included.
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | 2026-W01 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Friday 20 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Monday 1 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | Madaraka Day | Yes |
| Saturday 10 October 2026 | 2026-W41 | Mazingira Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 20 October 2026 | 2026-W43 | Mashujaa Day | Yes |
| Saturday 12 December 2026 | 2026-W50 | Jamhuri Day | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Boxing Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 9 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 1 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | Madaraka Day | Yes |
| Sunday 10 October 2027 | 2027-W40 | Mazingira Day | Yes |
| Monday 11 October 2027 | 2027-W41 | Mazingira Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 20 October 2027 | 2027-W42 | Mashujaa Day | Yes |
| Sunday 12 December 2027 | 2027-W49 | Jamhuri Day | Yes |
| Monday 13 December 2027 | 2027-W50 | Jamhuri Day | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Sunday 26 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Boxing Day | Yes |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | 2027-W52 | Boxing Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr | Friday 20 March 2026 | Tuesday 9 March 2027 | −11 days |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 | Monday 29 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| April | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| May | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| June | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 21 | 19 | −2 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| Q1 | 62 | 60 | −2 |
| Q2 | 61 | 64 | +3 |
| Q3 | 66 | 66 | 0 |
| Q4 | 64 | 62 | −2 |
| Year | 253 | 252 | −1 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Sunday and Saturday), minus the public holidays most people have off.
The first day of the calendar year in the Gregorian calendar, 1 January. Cultures and religions that follow a lunisolar or lunar calendar celebrate their New Year at other points of the year. Japan celebrates New Year on 1 January, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, instead of with the Chinese calendar that was in use until 1873.
At work: Fine to mention, and a natural moment to wish colleagues well.
Eid al-Fitr, the "festival of breaking the fast", is the first of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, and marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. It begins with a communal prayer and is followed by visits to relatives, giving gifts and sharing meals.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Its date follows the lunar calendar and shifts every year, so keep plans flexible. During Ramadan itself, colleagues who fast may prefer meetings earlier in the day and not over lunch.
A solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus, observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It falls on the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday.
At work: Fine to mention the long weekend. It is a sombre day for those who observe it, so avoid "Happy Good Friday". Its date moves every year with Easter, so check the calendar when planning spring deadlines.
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the most important feast of the Christian year. Families go to church and share a festive meal, and in many places Easter eggs are decorated and broken together as a symbol of the empty tomb. Easter is a moveable feast, with its date set by a lunisolar calendar. Easter Monday, the day after, is a public holiday in more than 50 predominantly Christian countries.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Colleagues may be away for the whole long weekend.
International Workers' Day, on 1 May, honours workers and the labour movement. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1886 general strike in the United States that culminated in the Haymarket affair, and the day was adopted in support of a "great international demonstration" for the eight-hour day.
At work: Fine to mention the day off. In some countries it has a political side, so keep it about the break.
Marks 1 June 1963, when Kenya attained internal self-rule after being a British colony. Full independence as a republic followed on 12 December 1964. Since 2015 the main celebration has moved between counties instead of staying in Nairobi.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
A day for environmental conservation, especially tree planting, in support of the government's aim of 15 billion trees by 2032. The 10 October holiday has had several names (Moi Day, Huduma Day, Utamaduni Day) and became Mazingira Day in 2024.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off. In 2025 schools across the country were directed to plant trees.
Heroes' Day, 20 October, remembers the heroes who fought for Kenya's independence. It was formerly called Kenyatta Day.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
Marks 12 December 1964, the day Kenya became a full republic.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on 25 December. Eastern Christian Churches that follow the older Julian calendar celebrate it on 25 December of that calendar, which currently corresponds to 7 January. It is a public holiday in many countries, and many non-Christians celebrate it culturally too.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Plan important meetings before the break. If you're unsure whether someone celebrates it, "Happy holidays" is a safe choice.
Boxing Day is celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas. It was once a day to donate gifts to those in need and has become part of the Christmas festivities. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in several Commonwealth nations. It is usually concurrent with Saint Stephen's Day, which in parts of Europe is the second day of Christmas.
At work: Fine to mention. It is part of the Christmas break.
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