Kikuyu MP, Kimani Ichung’wah proposes a bill to scrap off Utamaduni Day.

Kimani Ichung’wah, the majority leader of the National Assembly, proposes a bill to parliament to eliminate one public holiday, Utamaduni Day.

On Wednesday, November 22, Kimani Ichung’wah, the head of the National Assembly’s majority, proposed a bill to remove Utamaduni Day, a public holiday observed on October 10.

With the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Bill, which was introduced in Parliament on November 15, 2023, the legislator seeks to change the Public Holidays Act.

The member of parliament for Kikuyu wants the day to be fully abolished as a national holiday.

Part of the bill stated,

“The Bill proposes to amend the Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110) to remove Utamaduni Day as a public holiday.”

Kenya’s national holidays, including Mashujaa Day (October 20), Madaraka Day (June 1), Labor Day (May 1), and New Year’s Day (January 1), are outlined in the Act (Cap. 110).

The Act also gives the Cabinet Secretary the power to announce public holidays in addition to or instead of those already listed on the schedule.

The Act reads in part.

“The Cabinet Secretary 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 sub-county 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,”

Kenyans observed Moi Day on October 10 at first, but that date was later modified and Utamaduni Day was established.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) may be excluded from the Employment Act of 2007 according to Ichung’wah’s proposed amendments, which are consistent with exclusions for other national security agencies.

Additionally, the Bill seeks to correct inconsistent elements in the Office of the Attorney-General Act, 2012 by amending its operating framework.

According to the proposed amendment,

“The Bill proposes to amend the Office of the Attorney-General Act, 2012 to remove inconsistencies in the Office of the Attorney General’s operational framework in line with Article 156 of the Constitution that establishes the Office of the Attorney General as an independent office.”

Even though the day had previously been known as Huduma Day, it had produced misunderstandings. Nonetheless, before the Bill is approved or rejected by legislators, it will be discussed in Parliament.