President William Ruto has pledged to consider a proposal to declare Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, as a national public holiday in Kenya, following a formal request from the Hindu community. Diwali, celebrated widely by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, marks the spiritual victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
During a Diwali celebration held at the State House, leaders from Kenya’s Hindu community asked the President to recognize Diwali in a similar way to the public holidays observed for other major religions in Kenya. A Hindu teacher expressed the importance of such recognition, stating, “This is not just for us; we care about this country. A Hindu public holiday will make us proud to be Kenyans, and we want to celebrate with all of you.”
In response, President Ruto expressed support for the proposal and confirmed that the government would consider making Diwali a public holiday, potentially as soon as 2025. He emphasized that the decision would need to follow legal procedures and be approved through Parliament before becoming official. “The Speaker is here; if this is to happen, it must go all the way to Parliament. But I assure you that we will have made a decision by the next Diwali,” Ruto explained.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, also expressed his support, pledging to bring the matter to a parliamentary vote if it is formally introduced. “Your Excellency, if you choose to designate a holiday for the Hindu community, I will swiftly put it to a vote in Parliament,” he said, showing readiness to expedite the proposal’s legislative process.
President Ruto further addressed the significance of religious freedom in Kenya, underscoring his administration’s commitment to protecting the right to worship. “The supremacy of God in all creations means that we protect the place of religion, and we will safeguard every Kenyan’s right to worship God in their own way,” he said, encouraging the Asian community to take pride in their place within Kenyan society.
