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There is confusion among Kenyans on whether the country is marking Utamaduni Day or Huduma Day.
Officially, according to a gazette notice issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'I, Kenya is marking Utamaduni Day on Monday, 10, October.
Back in 2020, the then Uhuru Kenyatta led government announced the marking of the first Huduma Day, after it was changed from Moi Day, in line with a request from the late president Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi.
In his wishes, Moi had asked the government to change the name to Huduma Day, a Swahili name for 'Service'.
Moi Day was scrapped way before the enactment of the current constitution in 2010 and remained so even after High Court Judge George Odunga's ruling stating that October 10 is still a public holiday adding that failure to observe the day is an illegality and breach of the Public Holidays Act.
He, however, declined to rule on how Kenyans should celebrate the day.
The present confusion however started last year (2021) - after 9 years of being referred to Huduma Day - Matiang'I gazetted the day as Utamaduni Day.
In the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), it was suggested that Huduma Day be celebrated every 10th of October and December 26 be set aside for Utamaduni day.
The confusion seems to have even caught up with senior government officials including First Lady Rachael Ruto who has sent out to Kenyans a message via her social media pages wishing them a happy Huduma Day.
From Moi Day to Huduma Day to Utamaduni Day, the verdict on what holiday is being celebrated this year lies in the gazette notice issued by the government declaring the publuc holiday.
According to a notice issued by the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, Monday 10, October was gazetted as Utamaduni Day.
"All Citizens are reminded to honour the day by recognizing and celebrating the rich cultural diversity of Kenya in a manner that promoted our unity, national cohesion, and economic progress," the notice red in part.
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