Christians have Easter, Muslims have Ramadan, Atheists want their own holiday too

Christians have Easter, Muslims have Ramadan now atheists want their own holiday too.

The Atheists in Kenya Society (AIK) released a statement demanding for their own special national holiday one day before the recent Muslim holiday - Eid-el-Kabir.

In a statement released on Monday, August 20, 2018, they demanded that the government declare February 17th as "Atheist Day" so that they could hold "godless parades" and celebrate the fact that there is no God.

"Kenyans who do not believe in god or gods deserve a public holiday too," Atheists in Kenya Vice President Daisy Siongok said in the statement.

The argument is that "There is no shortage of religious holidays celebrated every year in Kenya. Christmas, Eid ul-Fitr, Diwali, Eid al-Adha, and Ramadan are just but a few. We deserve as much recognition as the other faiths."

The Vice President also revealed what would happen if this holiday is approved by Fred Matiang'i, Kenya's cabinet secretary for the interior ministry.

"We will use the occasion to show our lack of faith in Gods, by holding Godless Parades in various Countries and also to increase awareness about atheism in Kenya," Songok stated. "We believe that this will promote freedom of religion as a human right in Kenya and a strategic national interest, in line with Article 27 of Kenya's Constitution."

Article 27(4) of the Kenyan constitution explains that 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."

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Atheism in Kenya

The organization was founded in 2013. It was officially registered with the government on February 17, 2016, which explains why this date has been picked as the appropriate one for "Atheist Day."

According to the group's Facebook page, it "was born of a deep commitment to promote science, skeptical inquiry and critical thinking by the founders."

The mission - "to promote the growth and interaction of atheists in Kenya."

CIA World Factbook notes that Kenya made of about 47 percent Protestant Christians, 23 percent Catholics, 11 percent other Christians, 11 percent Muslim, and 2 percent none.