Both Christian and Muslim religious holidays are observed, as well
as secular national holidays. Local seasonal and cyclical events,
peculiar to particular ethnic groups, are less well advertised
Opening hours
Standard opening hours , where there are any, follow familiar patterns.
In larger towns, the major stores and tourist services will be open
Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5 or 6pm, often with a break for lunch.
Offices and museums open at similar times, though offices will usually
be closed on Saturdays. In rural areas and out in the bush, small shops
can be open at almost any hour, and may double as hotelis or chai kiosks.
In Muslim areas, opening hours will vary during Ramadan , when eating
places may be closed during the day, while shops and businesses will
close in time for sunset, to break the daily fast.
Bank opening hours in cities are Mon-Fri 9am-3pm, and on Saturdays (or
sometimes just the first and last Saturday of the month) 9-11am. Larger
post offices usually open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm, with smaller
ones, especially in rural areas, open Mon-Fri 8am-12.30pm & 2-5pm.
Public holidays
|
1 Jan |
New Year's Day
|
|
Mar-April (movable)
|
Good Friday
|
|
Mar-April (movable)
|
Easter Monday
|
|
10 Dhu'l Hijja (see
below) |
Tabaski |
|
1 May |
Labour Day |
|
1 June
|
Madaraka Day (celebrating
1960 granting of self-government) |
|
10 Oct
|
Moi Day |
|
20 Oct
|
Kenyatta Day (anniversary
of his imprisonment) |
|
1 Shawwal (see
below) |
Id ul Fitr |
|
12 Dec
|
Jamhuri (Independence)
Day |
|
25 Dec
|
Christmas Day
|
|
26 Dec
|
Boxing Day |
|
Note: if a holiday falls
on a Sunday, the following Monday is usually declared a public
holiday. |
The Islamic calendar
On the coast, throughout the northeast, and in Muslim communities
everywhere, the lunar Islamic calendar is used for religious purposes.
The Muslim year has 354 days, with 355 days eleven times every thirty
years, so dates recede against the Western calendar by an average of
eleven days each year. Only the month of fasting called Ramadan , and Id
ul Fitr - the feast of relief at the end of it which begins on the first
sighting of the new moon - will have much effect on your travels. During
Ramadan, most stores and hotelis are closed through the daylight hours
in smaller towns in Islamic districts. Public transport and official
business continue as usual. Maulidi , the celebration of the prophet's
birthday, is worth catching if you're on the coast at the right time,
especially if you'll be in Lamu.
Agricultural shows
The annual agricultural shows put on by the Agricultural Society of
Kenya (ASK) are lively, revealing occasions, borrowing a lot from the
British farming show tradition, but infused with Kenyan style. As well
as stock and produce competitions, and the usual beer and snack tents,
there are often some less expected booths: women's groups, family
planning, beekeeping, soil conservation and herbalism. Large towns have
an ASK fairground (sometimes reasonable places to camp, incidentally)
and the shows happen at roughly the same time each year. Many smaller
towns have annual district shows as well.
|
