President Ruto explains why Katiba Day was not declared a public holiday

President William Ruto has explained why the government has not gazetted Katiba Day on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, as a national holiday despite the day marking 15 years since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.

Speaking during the Katiba at 15 celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Ruto said the spirit of the Constitution itself informed his decision.

He pointed out that during the Constitution-making process, Kenyans had raised concerns over the country having too many public holidays, which led to an attempt to consolidate them under the 2010 Constitution.

“As I reflected on our journey towards the new Constitution, I was reminded in my conscience that when we got the new Constitution, we seemed to have said that we are done with matters Constitution. That is why I decided that maybe it is time, 15 years down the road, but it is never too late to do the right thing. That is why I signed a proclamation for us to celebrate this day, the day that we promulgated the new Constitution as Katiba Day,” the president said.

“As I reflected on how this should be done, I was informed by the journey. What we discussed during the Constitution-making process is that we had too many holidays, which was one of the problems that we had, and that is why there was an attempt by the new Constitution to consolidate national holidays since there were too many,” Ruto said.

The president further explained that this was the reason he opted not to make Katiba Day a work-free national holiday, underscoring that he intended for Kenyans to work in the morning and hold the celebrations in the afternoon.

He, at the same time, remained open to future deliberations, in case the nation may decide that the day be made a public holiday.

“In the spirit of this Constitution, I also thought that with the new Constitution, we should not make this a national holiday where there is no work, and partly why I thought we should have this occasion in the afternoon so that people can work in the morning,” he said. “…But maybe we can redefine that as we go forward.”

A proclamation from the Executive Office of the President said the day will serve as a reminder of the country’s collective duty to “obey, preserve, protect, and implement” the Constitution promulgated on August 27, 2010.