Why US Embassy in Kenya Will Remain Closed on Monday

The US Embassy in Kenya will remain closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, due to the observance of Labor Day. The embassy has announced this closure in a notice to the public, stating that they will be closed on the public holiday. Normal operations are expected to resume after the holiday. Labor Day is a United States holiday celebrated on the first Monday of September each year.

It commemorates the social and economic contributions of American workers and their role in the country's development. The holiday originated in the labor movement of the late 19th century, when workers and labor activists sought better working conditions and recognition of workers' contributions to the economy. The first Labor Day celebration took place in New York City on September 5, 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union.

By 1894, more than 20 states had recognized Labor Day as a holiday, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed a law establishing the first Monday in September as a federal holiday. President Grover Cleveland signed the legislation into law. Labor Day is observed through parades, gatherings, and family celebrations across the United States.

Early celebrations emphasized workers and labor organizations, with a street parade followed by a festival for workers and their families. The American Federation of Labor later designated the Sunday before Labor Day as Labor Sunday, focusing on the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.