Muslim faithful have gathered across the country for Eid-ul-Adha prayers signalling the start of the four day festival.

On Wednesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen gazetted today as a public holiday to mark Islam’s second largest festival, after Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan fasting.

A spot check by The Standard showed large crowds of Muslims congregating at different locations, including in open-air spaces, to pray ahead of feasts and celebrations that are usually associated with the day.

In Mombasa, the solemn occasion was held at various venues dotting the coastal city. The Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Joho was among congregants who gathered at the Ummu Kulthum Mosque in Kizingo.

At the same time, special prayers were being offered at the Tononoka grounds.

Meanwhile, the celebrations have continued in Kisumu where the early morning prayers went on at Highway ECDE Primary and Junior School near Kibuye Market.

In Turkana County, prayers were held at Lodwar’s Jamia Mosque. Sheikh Abdullah Sheikh who led the ceremony urged the national government to deploy the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the volatile Todonyang area, along the Kenya – Ethiopia border where fishermen were recently killed by foreigners.

He called on the government to protect the fishermen, and citizens, from the ambush attacks.

On his part, Wajir Governor, Ahmed Abdullahi, used today’s occasion to emphasise the need for peace and unity.

The festival is famous for its feast of goats which muslim faithful traditionally share with family, friends, relatives and the poor.

The slaughter of goats is symbolic of Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience when he showed willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as per Allah’s wish but a sacrifice of a ram was accepted by Allah following Ibrahim’s show of faith.

Eid-ul-Adha coincides with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca which happens in Dhu-al-Hijjah, the last month in Islam’s lunar calendar. 

The day’s greeting is ‘Eid Mubarak’