This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has declared Monday, May 25, a public holiday to mark the end of Ramadhan, which will be celebrated on either Saturday or Sunday.
According to a gazette notice, the government has taken this step to ensure that Muslims across the country can observe the Idd-ul-Fitr holiday without any disruptions.
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) South Rift chairman Sheikh Yusuf Athman has urged the faithful to follow the directives aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus as they mark the event.
Sheikh Athman noted that the day would be marked on Saturday or Sunday, depending on when their fasting began, and that it would be a 'different kind of Idd-ul-Fitr because of the pandemic.'
He also urged Muslims to pray at home, ensure social distancing, frequently wash hands with soap, and have face masks all the time.
For many Muslims, this will be the first time they will mark the day without visiting recreational parks, beaches, family members, and the poor.
