Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi – President William Ruto has announced plans to make November 1 of every year a national holiday to celebrate Diwali, a Hindu ceremony.
During Diwali celebrations at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, October 30, the president promised to sponsor a bill to make Diwali a national holiday.
Reacting to the requests by those in attendance, the president explained that the proposal must undergo the requisite legislative processes for it to be anchored in law.
The head-of-state disclosed that he would speak with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, to ensure the proposal is passed before the next Diwali ceremony in November 2025.
“I have heard your request on the issue of us having Diwali as a national holiday. I will subject it to the government process, the speaker is here. If it has to happen, it has to go through Parliament but I want to assure you that we will have decided by the next Diwali,” Ruto stated.
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Speaking at the same event, Speaker Wetangula pledged to ensure that members of the National Assembly seamlessly passed a bill fronted before parliament to formally make Diwali a national holiday.
“Your Excellency, if you decide to give them (the Hindu community) a holiday, I will put the question very quickly in parliament,” Speaker Wetangula told Ruto.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
