Today we celebrate Kenya's most 'changing' national holiday, the original date of which dates back to the accession to power of the second President of the Republic, Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi ('arap' in Kalenjin tribal dialect means 'son of') on 10 October 1978, after the death of the father of the fatherland, Jomo Kenyatta. Under the name 'Moi Day', the holiday was celebrated every year until 2009 (despite the fact that Arap Moi had left the presidency with the advent of parliamentary democracy and multi-party elections in 2002), since with the promulgation of the country's new constitution, it was removed from the list of public holidays in the Kenyan calendar, except to be reinstated in 2017 following a Supreme Court ruling, which overturned Parliament's decision. Justice George Odunga ruled that the cancellation of Moi Day in 2010 was a violation of the Public Holidays Act.
Upon the former president's death, the holiday was initially renamed Huduma Day (Public Service Day) in line with former president Daniel Arap Moi's wish to commemorate the day as a day of service and volunteerism.
As of 2021, however, the wording has changed and (apparently permanently) Utamaduni Day (Culture Day) is celebrated, which the year before was set for 26 December in the so-called 'Boxing Day'. The date and name change but, compared to Huduma Day, the meaning of the holiday does not change: Kenyans are encouraged to participate in national prayers and to promote national unity, social justice, cohesion and sustainable development in their communities for the benefit of present and future generations.