An atheists lobby has asked Kenyan Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to declare February 17 a public holiday for non-believers.
The group, known as Athiests in Kenya, said in a statement that Kenyans who do not believe in God or gods deserve a public holiday too.
“We will use the occasion to show our lack of faith in god by holding parades in various counties and also to increase awareness about atheism in Kenya,” said AIK Vice President Daisy Siongok. “We believe that this will promote freedom of religion as a human right in Kenya in line with Article 27 of Constitution.”
Article 27(4) of the Constitution says the “State shall not discriminate directly or indirectly against any person on any ground, including race, sex, pregnancy, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, colour, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, dress, language or birth.
Athiests in Kenya made the request shortly after the Kenyan government declared 21 August a public holiday to mark the culmination of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Eid al-Adha. Muslims are however split on whether the day is backed by the Holy Qur’an.
In the past, the atheists’ group has accused the government of religious bias that it claims contravenes the Constitution.
AIK’s President Harrison Mumia says his group has 500 registered members and the number would be much bigger if not for “the stigma of atheism in Kenya.”
“Many Kenyans do not want their parents or family to know that they are atheists,” he said.
A 2013 study by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics suggests that 98 percent of Kenyans practice some form of organized religion and that only a scant 2 percent identify themselves as non-believers. But AIK estimates put that amount at around 5 percent, implying close to 2.25 million Kenyans are atheists.
