Updated 1 November 2026
This Kenya leave planner shows you which days to book off so your annual leave joins up with public holidays and weekends for the longest possible break. Choose a period, choose how many leave days you can spare, and the planner lists the best options with the exact dates to put on your leave form. It covers December 2026 and the full years 2026 and 2027.
Updated November 2026. Holiday dates follow the Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110) as amended in 2024 (full text on Kenya Law). The planner runs in your browser and saves nothing.
Public holidays in this period
Dates from the Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110, as amended 2024). A holiday on a Sunday moves to the next day (section 4). Eid dates are estimates until gazetted by the Interior CS. Saturday holidays are not moved unless gazetted.
How to use the Kenya leave planner
- Pick the period. December 2026 is selected first because that is when most people in Kenya plan their long break.
- Pick how many leave days you can take. Start with the number your HR system shows as available, then try smaller numbers to compare.
- Read the cards. Each one shows the total days off, the dates of the break and the working days you need to book as leave.
- Check the holiday table under the results. It lists every public holiday in the period you picked.
The planner treats Saturday and Sunday as rest days. If you work a five-and-a-half or six-day week, your break may be a little shorter than it shows, so count your own working Saturdays.
December 2026 at a glance
December 2026 is an unusual month. Jamhuri Day (12 December) and Boxing Day (26 December) both fall on a Saturday, and Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on a Friday. A Saturday holiday does not move to the Monday under the Act, so there are only two weekday holidays between 1 December and 1 January.
| Leave days booked | Dates to book | Break | Total days off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thursday 24 December | 24 to 27 December | 4 |
| 3 | 22, 23 and 24 December | 22 to 27 December | 6 |
| 4 | 28, 29, 30 and 31 December | 25 December to 3 January | 10 |
| 5 | 24 December and 28 to 31 December | 24 December to 3 January | 11 |
| 7 | 22 to 24 and 28 to 31 December | 22 December to 3 January | 13 |
The best value is four leave days from Monday 28 to Thursday 31 December. That gives you ten days in a row, from Christmas Day to Sunday 3 January 2027. For a full breakdown, read our guide to the best days to take leave in December.
How the Kenya leave planner works out the dates
The planner starts from every working day in the period and counts forward, using your leave days on working days and skipping weekends and holidays, until your leave runs out. It keeps only breaks that include at least one public holiday, then ranks them by days off per leave day. That way the top card is always the one that stretches your leave the furthest.
It also applies section 4 of the Public Holidays Act. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day becomes a public holiday. In 2027 that moves Mazingira Day to Monday 11 October, for example. Saturday holidays are not moved unless the Interior Cabinet Secretary gazettes a change.
Dates the Kenya leave planner treats as estimates
Idd-ul-Fitr and Idd-ul-Adha depend on the moon, so the planner shows them as estimates until the government gazettes them. The Interior Cabinet Secretary can also declare a one-off public holiday by notice in the Kenya Gazette. If that happens, the planner will be updated. Our full list of Kenya public holidays for 2026 and 2027 tracks gazette notices as they come out.
Before you submit your leave form
- Check your balance. Under section 28 of the Employment Act you earn at least 21 working days of paid leave after every 12 months of service. Our guide to leave rights under the Employment Act explains how it is earned and carried forward.
- Apply early. December is the busiest month for leave requests, and many employers approve on a first come, first served basis.
- Work out what your leave is worth with the leave pay calculator.
- If you have to work on a holiday instead, know your rate. Our guide on holiday pay for working on public holidays covers the double rate rule.
- Planning the trip as well? See bank and M-Pesa hours over Jamhuri, Christmas and New Year before you travel.
Related guides
Best Days to Take Leave in December 2026 in Kenya
Frequently asked questions
How many leave days do I need for the longest December 2026 break?
Four leave days, from 28 to 31 December 2026, give you ten days off in a row, from Friday 25 December to Sunday 3 January 2027.
Is there a public holiday on Monday 14 December 2026?
No. Jamhuri Day falls on Saturday 12 December 2026, and the Public Holidays Act only moves a holiday to the next day when it falls on a Sunday. A new date would need a gazette notice.
Does the Kenya leave planner count Saturdays as working days?
No. It treats Saturday and Sunday as rest days. If you work Saturdays, add those days to your own count.
Does the Kenya leave planner save my details?
No. It runs on your phone or computer and nothing is sent to our server.
Can I use the planner for 2027?
Yes. Choose “Full year 2027” to see the best breaks around Easter, Madaraka Day, the 10 August 2027 general election day, Mashujaa Day and the Christmas holidays.
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