Legislator proposes bill to amend Public Holidays to give Kenyans more off days

UDA Senator moves to parliament seeking to amend Public Holidays Act to give Kenyans more off days.

Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa, on Thursday, June 1, announced plans to petition changes to the Public Holidays Act to give Kenyans more extra days on holidays. 

The senator announced that he was tabling a Public Holiday Amendment Bill, which would ratify holidays falling on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

In his proposal, the legislator stated that if a Holiday is on Tuesday, the day before which is Monday should be a rest day also and if a Holiday is on Thursday, Friday should be a holiday. 

“Where in any year, a public holiday (a) falls on a Tuesday, then the preceding day, shall be a public holiday or (b) falls on a Thursday, the succeeding day shall also be a public holiday,” his amendment bill read in part.

Karungo defended the Holiday Amendment Bill, which he argued was critical to promoting domestic tourism in the country.

Moreover, in his argument, Holiday Economics stipulate that an extra off day would help workers prioritise their physical and mental well-being in the long run and spur productivity in various sectors.

“Extending public holidays supports economic growth and promotes domestic tourism by encouraging longer trips and visit to new destinations, benefiting the hospitality and tourism industry,” he stated.

Karungo thus implored Kenyans to lobby their members of parliament and senators to support his table when tabled before the National Assembly.

He cited other developed countries like the Philippines, which embrace similar holiday structures. 

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In the Philippines, when Tuesday is a holiday, the following Monday is declared a special non-working day. 

Karungo thus dismissed claims that the country would make losses for adopting that holiday structure.

The policy, termed Holiday Economics, was introduced in the Philippines by the country’s 14th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

His sentiments came after Madaraka Day Celebration, which fall on Thursday, June 1.

According to the Act, a Cabinet Secretary can declare a public holiday any day he deems fit through a gazette notice. 

The Act grants the CS powers to either extend the holiday or even announce a holiday targeting a specific area.

The Act also stipulates that the following Monday becomes a rest day when a public holiday falls on a Sunday.

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