Atheists In Kenya president Harrison Mumia speaks at a Nairobi court on November 1, 2017 concerning the deregistration of the society. Religious leaders called for its disbandment. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. ....(Psalms
14:1).
Kenyan atheists demand national holiday
Monday August 20 2018
A Kenyan atheists lobby has asked the country's
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to declare February 17 a
public holiday for non-believers.
Following the
declaration of Tuesday, August 21, as a public holiday to mark Idd ul
Adha, Atheists in Kenya (AIK) want a day for themselves too to “preach”
their belief that God does not exist.
“Kenyans who do
not believe in god or gods deserve a public holiday too,” AIK vice
president Ms Siongok said in a statement to newsrooms on Sunday.
In the past, the atheists’ group has accused the government of religious bias that it claims contravenes the Constitution.
“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. We believe that this will promote freedom of religion as a
human right in Kenya in line with Article 27 of Constitution,” said Ms
Siongok.
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."
AIK
was registered as a Society in February 17, 2016 (Societies Act, Cap
108) but Prof Muigai suspended it following opposition from clergy until
legal questions around the legitimacy of the group are addressed.
However, the High Court overturned the group's deregistration.
