Ruto vows to consider request to make Diwali public holiday

President William Ruto has promised to consider a request by the Hindu community in Kenya to make Diwali a national public holiday.

The Indian leadership had asked the President to honour them as all other major religions have national public holidays.

"We are requesting you make a Hindu Diwali Day a national public holiday," the leadership said.

The request was followed by a round of applause from the members of the Hindu community, with a light moment as Ruto was told "Mzee now you are stuck".

A Hindu teacher stated that they needed the day to be made a public holiday, so they could celebrate Diwali with the rest of Kenyans.

"This is not only for ourselves as we feel for this country and we feel a Hindu public holiday will make us proud to be Kenyans and we want to celebrate with all of you," he said.

In response, President Ruto, who had hosted Diwali Celebrations at the State House, said the government will deliberate and make the day a public holiday from 2025.

“I will undertake to subject it to the process of government,” the President said in response to a request from Hindu leaders.

He explained that the request has to follow the legal process through the Parliament before being gazetted.

“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," Ruto said.

He encouraged the Asian community to take pride in their place in Kenya.

The President assured Kenyans that his administration would not in any way interfere with the right to religion.

He vowed that the government would “by all means” possible protect the sacred provision of the right to worship by all Kenyans and all religions.

“The preamble of our constitution speaks to our acknowledgement as Kenyans. The supremacy of God of all creations is that we protect the place of religion, and we will protect the right of every Kenyan to worship God in the way they want because we all submit to the living God,” he stated.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, also in attendance, voiced his support, saying he was ready to table the issue in Parliament.

"Your Excellency, if you choose to designate a holiday for the Hindu community, I will quickly put it to a vote in Parliament," he said.

Diwali also called the Festival of Lights symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance".