What are the Public Holidays in Kenya? Can employees work during Public Holidays?

In Kenya, public holidays are important for employees' time off and compensation. Here’s a guide on how public holidays are managed, including a list of recognized public holidays:


Key Rules for Public Holidays:

  1. Paid Time Off:

    • Employees are entitled to paid time off on public holidays. This means employees should receive their regular salary for these days without needing to work.

  2. Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend:

    • If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the next working day is considered a paid holiday. This ensures that employees still benefit from their holiday entitlement.

  3. Compensation for Working on Public Holidays:

    • If employees are required to work on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to 200% of their hourly salary for that day.


List of Public Holidays in Kenya:

  1. New Year’s Day - January 1
  2. Good Friday - Date varies (Christian holiday observed during Holy Week)
  3. Easter Monday - Date varies (the day after Easter Sunday)
  4. Labour Day - May 1
  5. Madaraka Day - June 1
  6. Mashujaa Day (Heroes’ Day) - October 20
  7. Jamhuri Day (Independence Day) - December 12
  8. Christmas Day - December 25
  9. Boxing Day - December 26

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