Atheists in Kenya Demand their Own Holiday

Atheists in Kenya Demand their Own Holiday

Kenyan atheists have launched a fresh bid to have February 17th declared a holiday for nonbelievers.

In a letter to the State, the president of Atheists in Kenya (AIK) Harrison Mumia accused the government of giving special treatment to Christians and Muslims while ignoring minority groups such as atheists.

Mumia cited the decision by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to gazette Monday, August 12th, as a public holiday to mark the Islamic Festival of Eid ul Adha.

"This declaration amounts to religious privilege that the dominant religions in Kenya (Christians and Muslims) have enjoyed since independence, courtesy of the Kenyan Government and the current Constitution," he said in a letter.

"In order to end this social inequity that is rooted in history and the normalization of Christianity and Islam as the de facto religions in Kenya, we demand that CS Fred Matiang’i declares February 17th as an atheist holiday," he added.

Mumia said the declaration of February 17th as atheists’ holiday would end the abhorrence they face from members of dominant religious groups in the country.

"As it stands today, atheists are considered an underclass in this country, yet our constitution protects freedom of belief and conscience," he noted.
AIK was registered as a society under the Societies Act, Cap 108 on February 17th, 2016.

Comments

Wandesco (not verified)     Sun, 08/11/2019 @ 05:53pm

What is this guy arguing for? All the years without knowing his religious holiday..? It's on the calendar too..April fools day! April 1st.

Anonymous UI (not verified)     Sun, 08/11/2019 @ 06:06pm

Let us fight for our languages. Our languages do not have names for these abnormalities. We need to leave all these foreign things to foreigners. Homosexuality, beastiality, Christianity, Islam, and all other things that we cannot define in our African languages. Language is everything and our leaders need to bring a vote in parliament to have all vote for a national language that will unite us all and unite us to other Africans. This is a waste of time when the country has other priorities.
Even those other foreign religions need to be stopped and voted out.
We need to go back to our God and our original beliefs.

Maxiley (not verified)     Sun, 08/11/2019 @ 08:29pm

How about coming up with UNITY DAY.On this day Kenyans embrase their oneness,and ignore for aday what makes them different.

Mumbi (not verified)     Sun, 08/11/2019 @ 10:19pm

I'm at a loss here. Christian holidays celebrate the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ. Muslim holidays celebrate the end of Ramadhan and Haji. Atheists by definition do not believe in God. So exactly what are they celebrating?

Mtembezi (not verified)     Mon, 08/12/2019 @ 08:58am

In reply to by Mumbi (not verified)

Maybe the fact that they don't start wars, don't kill people for not believing in their fantasies, don't think science is a hoax, don't tell you how you should dress, what you should eat, whom you should marry, how to raise your children, don't use fantasy books to justify slavery. The states that pretend to be all bible all the time in majuu also have highest rates of gun violence, poverty and illiteracy. I don't think it's a coincidence

Anos (not verified)     Sun, 08/11/2019 @ 11:14pm

We don't need any religious or non-religious holidays. period. They are a waste of time. So what good is that that someone tried to kill his son because of hearing voices in his head and we celebrate that Ushenzi? If you want a day off, call in.

mkenya halisi (not verified)     Mon, 08/12/2019 @ 09:34am

Hawa watu waende states or uk where the devil n his children sleeps n wakes up nahuko watapewa all they want!Huko u can b what u want,marry what u want,eat/sleep with what u want.Guys i guarantee you if u move there ur safe.

Anos (not verified)     Mon, 08/12/2019 @ 11:27am

@Mumbi. They can celebrate lack of belief in the imaginary deities that the two Abrahamic religions believe in. But as I said before we don't need any religious holidays. They segregate against those that don't believe or practice those religions. Otherwise why not also have a public holiday for the Hindu, Tibetan, Mormon or the flying spaghetti monster followers?

Bwana (not verified)     Mon, 08/12/2019 @ 12:21pm

Who's responsible to protect our African culture and customs in the Administration - lets wake him/her up ASAP and defeat the devil.

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