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President William Ruto has sent a message of goodwill to all Muslims as they celebrate Eid-ul-Adha.

In a post on social media, the Head of State wished all Muslims heartfelt Eid Mubarak, full of joy, peace and blessings.

“Eid-ul-Adha is a celebration of sacrifice, faith and obedience to the will of Allah. May this blessed day inspire these spiritual virtues in the hearts of all Muslims and also bring joy, peace and blessings,” President Ruto said.

pic.twitter.com/usvzjBO50v

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) June 28, 2023

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also sent best wishes to the Muslim community saying, “May the joy of Eid surround you and your family.”

To all our Muslim brothers and sisters, in Kenya, and around the World, I wish you a joyous Eid ul Adha! EID MUBARAK. pic.twitter.com/0oORRZZQTF

— H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH (@rigathi) June 28, 2023

The government declared Wednesday, June 28, 2023, a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Adha.

“It is notified for the general information of the public that in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 (2) and part II of the Schedule, as read with section 3 of the Public Holidays Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares that Wednesday, the 28th June, 2023, shall be a public holiday to mark Eid-Ul-Adha (Idd-Ul-Azha),”Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said in a gazette notice on Monday.

Significance of Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha also referred to as the Feast of Sacrifice is the second and the largest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam after Eid-Ul-Fitr.

The celebration honours the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God’s command.

A major religious significance of Eid-al-Adha is that the festival marks the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for the Muslim community.