Govt Officially Adopts Environment Protection Holiday Amid Floods Havoc 

The Kenyan government officially adopted a public holiday that will be specifically dedicated to the protection of the environment. 

President William Ruto on Tuesday, April 24, signed into law the Miscellaneous Amendment (2024) which saw October 10 officially recognized as Mazingira Day - a public holiday dedicated to environment conservation. 

"The Bill amends the Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110) to substitute Utamaduni Day with Mazingira Day as a public holiday to be observed on 10th October every year. This seeks to complement government efforts towards environmental protection and Conservation. 

“The Mazingira Day share therefore be a day for all Kenyans to participate in environmental conservation activities including tree planting in line with the government's efforts towards accelerating forest restoration and ensuring that 15 billion trees are planted by 2032 to address the effects of climate change,” a statement from State House read in part.

Coincidentally, the new law came at a time that most Kenyans have been hard hit from the adverse effects of climate change. 

On Wednesday, April 24, a number of Kenyans were unable to make it to work after heavy rains resulted in a blockage of major roads and floods in residential areas. 

Some of the hardest hit areas in the Nairobi region include Juja where a section of Thika Road was closed off from heavy floods, the Eastern Bypass, Mwiki, UN Avenue, Athi River where the river broke its banks, the CBD where a number of trees fell along Moi Avenue. In Ruaka, Syokimau, Ruiru, Githurai, and Mathare, residents have been displaced after floods swept into residential houses. Rescue efforts are ongoing. 

October 10 was previously celebrated as Moi Day, during former President Daniel Arap Moi’s regime. However, the 2010 constitution did not recognize the day as a national holiday and was subsequently not observed for a couple of years. 

In 2017, the courts ruled that the day remained a public holiday in line with the Holidays Act, although the government has had a free hand in deciding how the day would be celebrated. 

The Miscellaneous Amendment (2024) also introduced a raft of other changes including barring the National Intelligence Service (NIS) from participating in industrial action.