In Kenya, public holidays are important for employees' time off and compensation. Here’s a guide on how public holidays are managed, including a list of recognized public holidays:
Key Rules for Public Holidays:
Paid Time Off:
Employees are entitled to paid time off on public holidays. This means employees should receive their regular salary for these days without needing to work.
Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend:
If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the next working day is considered a paid holiday. This ensures that employees still benefit from their holiday entitlement.
Compensation for Working on Public Holidays:
If employees are required to work on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to 200% of their hourly salary for that day.
List of Public Holidays in Kenya:
New Year’s Day - January 1
Good Friday - Date varies (Christian holiday observed during Holy Week)
Easter Monday - Date varies (the day after Easter Sunday)
Labour Day - May 1
Madaraka Day - June 1
Mashujaa Day (Heroes’ Day) - October 20
Jamhuri Day (Independence Day) - December 12
Christmas Day - December 25
Boxing Day - December 26