Govt declares Wednesday a public holiday

What you need to know:

Decision made “to enable Kenyans the opportunity to travel to their respective voting centres so as to participate in the fresh Presidential Election on Thursday 26th October 2017.”
Dr Matiang’i invoked powers conferred to the Interior CS in the Public Holidays Act.
The voting day was also declared a public holiday last week.

The government has declared Wednesday, October 25, the presidential election eve, as a public holiday.

Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i made the declaration through a Kenya Gazette notice.

The ministry’s spokesman Mwenda Njoka said the decision was made “to enable Kenyans the opportunity to travel to their respective voting centres so as to participate in the fresh Presidential Election on Thursday 26th October 2017.”

Dr Matiang’i invoked powers conferred to the Interior CS in the Public Holidays Act.

Voting day

The voting day was also declared a public holiday last week.

READ: October 26 gazetted public holiday

The notice comes despite the standoff between the ruling Jubilee party and the Opposition Nasa.

Nasa has asked its supporters not to take part in the polls while Jubilee has called for a massive turnout.

On Tuesday, three voters moved to the Supreme Court seeking to stop the Thursday repeat presidential poll.

Mr Khalef Khalifa, Mr Samuel Mohochi and Mr Gacheke Gachuhi claim the electoral commission is divided and cannot guarantee a fair and credible poll.