Members of the Atheists in Kenya Society on Wednesday declared that they too deserve a public holiday just as followers of various religions.
The demand follows an announcement by Ruto that his administration will decide whether to make Diwali a public holiday by next year.
“I will undertake to subject it to the process of government,” the President said in response to a request from Hindu leaders.
“The Speaker is here, if it has to happen, it has to go all the way to Parliament but I assure you we will have made a decision by the next Diwali.”
Unlike other religious celebrations like Christmas for Christians or Eid al-Fitr for Muslims, Diwali is not observed as a public holiday in Kenya.
In a statement to media houses, Atheists in Kenya Society said it will submit a petition to Parliament November 1, 2024, asking for the establishment of a national holiday for atheists.
Atheist refers to someone who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods.
“This holiday will celebrate individuals who have rejected religious beliefs (in particular, the belief in the God of Israel Yahweh, the Arab God Allah, and the Hindu gods) in favour of humanism, secularism, and free thought,” President of Atheists in Kenya Society Harrison Mumia said.
Mumia said the initiative aligns with Article 27 of our Constitution, which asserts that the State shall not discriminate against any individual on various grounds, including religion, conscience, and belief.
“If our petition is rejected by Parliament, we will pursue legal action,” he vowed.
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is India’s most important holiday of the year.
It symbolises the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”.
While the dates for the holiday vary each year as they follow the lunar calendar, it is celebrated between mid-September and mid-November.
The celebrations generally last five or six days, or even as short as one day, depending on where a person lives or how the person celebrates.
While the dates for the holiday vary each year as they follow the lunar calendar, it is celebrated between mid-September and mid-November.
