By Kidega Livingstone
National Ministry of Labor has announced a 3-day public holiday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which is an Islamic festival that marks the end of Ramadan.
The Undersecretary at the Ministry of Labor, Mary Hillary Wani Pitia, issued a circular stating that the holiday will start on Tuesday, April 9, and end on Thursday, April 11, 2024, with work resuming on Friday, April 12.
The circular is applicable to all institutions, including government, diplomatic missions, UN agencies, and NGOs, who are required to observe the holiday accordingly.
“All the Civil Services Institutions, Commissions, Diplomatic Missions, United Nations Agencies, International and National Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and the public at large are advised that Eid Al-Fitr commences on Tuesday, April 9th, to Thursday, April 11th, 2024, and the work will resume on Friday, April 12th, 2024,” Mrs. Hillary stated.
Eid al-Fitr (the holiday of breaking the fast) is the earlier of the two official holidays celebrated within Islam worldwide because it marks the end of the long dawn-to-sunset fasting of the holy month of Ramadan.
Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic Calendar; this does not always fall on the same Gregorian day, as the start of any lunar (Hijri) month varies based on when the new moon is sighted by local religious authorities.