When one says we are living in interesting times, this statement could not be more factual. The events that unfolded on Thursday night were a true testament to this.

Even before the reality of Riggy G’s loss at the High Court could sink in, preparations were being made left, right and centre to swear in his replacement.

In the midst of all of this craziness, a communication, rather the most important one of all came from the office of the now Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, declaring Friday a public holiday. This gazette notice was issued late into the night.

Fast forward to the early morning, Kenneth Koskei woke up at 7 am and made his way to work.

Coming from Kaptembwa he stopped at Kolen stage where he met with a friend who asked him why he was going to work yet it was a public holiday?

Kenneth Koskei a guard at Tower One Building during an interview on November 1, 2024.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

“I was surprised and thought he was joking because the previous day I had not heard anything of the sort. So, I ignored him. I arrived at work at 7:30 am. There were some three individuals who work in a bank in my building standing outside their premises” he says.

The security guard highlights how one of the bank employees regretted coming to work “Mbona nimekuja kazi na ni holiday”? lamented one of the employees as he started making his way back home.

It was at this point that Koskei believed it was a holiday.

But for me it was still a working day so I made my way to work”
Another resident, Margaret, a cleaner at one of the buildings in Kenyatta Avenue spoke to us in a phone interview.

She says she only came to realize it was a holiday after reporting to work at 6 am to start her cleaning duties.

“When I got to work, I started cleaning as usual but as it approached 7:45 am, people had not started streaming in as they usually do and so I called one of my colleagues and she informed me ati leo ilikuwa holiday? I just finished cleaning the office so I locked up and went home back home,” she says.

Even during the day, one could not clearly tell that it was a holiday. As compared to other national holidays such as Mashujaa Day and the likes, Nakuru city centre was busier than usual.
There were some few shops that were closed, some parking areas remained empty, but as the day progressed there were those who came to open their businesses.

Shops opposite Tower One remain closed on November 1, 2024.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

“Why should I seat at home and watch one individual get appointed to a job while their hundreds without jobs, mimi nitaenda kujitafutia” says Alex Mwangi, a Nakuru Resident, in one of the WhatsApp Groups.

By the time 6 pm was approaching heading late into the night, the city centre was back to its busy self with traffic into the town stretching as far as Statehouse.

How residents found out Friday was a holiday while at work

Author Spotlight

Bret Sanya