This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
On August 8, 2019, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i declared Monday, August 12, a public holiday to mark the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha.
Eid-ul-Adha is an Islamic festival commemorating Abraham's willingness to follow God's command to sacrifice his son Isaac.
The festival is celebrated by Muslims worldwide and marks the end of Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
During Eid-al-Adha, Muslims perform a unique Islamic prayer called salat, which consists of two units known as rakats.
In Kenya, the Chief Kadhi or Imam Khatib performs the prayer in a congregation and adds six Takbirs, an act of raising both hands to the ears and saying the words 'Allahu Akbar.'
"The cabinet secretary for Interior and Coo-ordination of National Government declares that Monday, August 12, to be a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Adha," said Matiang'i in a gazette notice dated August 8, 2019.
