Raila declares March 20, 2023, a ‘public holiday’

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has announced Monday, March 20 as a ‘public holiday’. Speaking at a rally in Siaya on Tuesday, Mr Odinga said: “In the name of Azimio one Kenya Alliance, We declare that Monday, March 20 will be a public holiday.” He was responding to a call by NARC Kenya leader Martha Karua who asked him to declare the day a public holiday to provide room for Kenyans to attend the mass protests. Karua said: “We ask you for your excellence to make that day a public holiday. We cannot have rigged elections every other year”. Karua had insisted that Azimio won the presidential contest and failure to open the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commision (IEBC) servers leaves them little option but to rally their supporters to the streets to seek justice. She said the mass action is not for Raila’s benefit but for the interest of the electorate whose choice of the ballot was violated. Raila said the mass action will take the shape of street demonstrations, picketing, boycotts, disobedience, peaceful petitions and sit-ins. “Take note that on the 20th of March 2023, we have a date with destiny in Nairobi. On that day, our supporters throughout the country shall stage a massive procession in Nairobi for a legitimate and inclusive government. Save the date,” he said. However, the Kenyan law leaves the preserve of declaring a public holiday to the Interior minister. What the law says The Minister may at any time if he thinks fit, by notice in the Gazette, declare any day to be a public holiday either in addition to the days mentioned in the Schedule or in substitution for any of those days and either throughout Kenya or in any district, area or part thereof, and thereupon any day so appointed shall be a public holiday in all respects as if it were a day mentioned in the Schedule, in Kenya or the locality specified in the notice; and where, in any year, any day is so declared to be a public holiday in substitution for any of the days mentioned in the Schedule such latter-day shall in such year cease to be a public holiday in Kenya or the locality specified in the notice. Also read: Eldoret trader tells court military officers smoked bhang at his kiosk New twist to Jeff Mwathi’s puzzling death as his two girlfriends show up