The government has now declared Thursday a public holiday following the visit by Pope Francis who arrives in the country on Wednesday evening.<br />State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said in a statement the government has decided to dedicate it as a national day of prayer and reflection.<br /><br />“The Government of Kenya has declared 26th November 2015 a Public Holyday and a National Day of Prayer and Reflection.<br /><br />As we are privileged to be hosting His Holiness the Pope at the time, he will set the tone for the day,” Esipisu said.<br /><br />Earlier, the government had said there will be no holiday but instead asked employers to give their employees time to attend events planned during the Pope’s two days visit in Kenya.<br /><br />The Pope is expected to preside over an open mass at University of Nairobi grounds.<br /><br />He will also lead the youth in a forum at the Kasarani Stadium in which youths in their thousands are expected to attend.<br /><br />Most Kenyans have expressed their interest in attending the historical events when the country is hosting a Pope 20 years after the last visit by Pope John Paul II.
