NAIROBI, Kenya – The United States Embassy in Nairobi has announced it will be closed on Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the end of slavery.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Embassy said it joins Americans in marking the historic occasion, which is widely celebrated as a symbol of freedom and African-American resilience.
“The U.S. Embassy Nairobi will be closed on Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth,” the announcement read.
The embassy will be closed tomorrow, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth, a U.S. holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth,” marks the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, formally ending slavery in the last Confederate state more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln first issued the decree.
The holiday, which originated in Texas in 1866, initially involved church-based gatherings and community celebrations among formerly enslaved people.
Over time, it evolved to include parades, music, prayer services, and large communal meals—hallmarks of African-American cultural identity and pride.
A Symbol of Freedom and Progress
Juneteenth has been observed in various ways across the U.S. for more than a century and gained renewed momentum during the Civil Rights Movement and again in the 2020s following global protests against racial injustice.
It was officially declared a federal holiday in 2021 under the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making it the first new U.S. federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
The day is often referred to as “America’s second Independence Day” and is recognized by every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.
It also holds cultural significance beyond American borders, including among the Mascogos, descendants of Black Seminoles who fled slavery and settled in Coahuila, Mexico in the 1850s.
The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi confirmed that normal operations will resume on Friday, June 20, and advised U.S. citizens in Kenya to plan accordingly for consular services and appointments.
