Twitter Analysis of the hashtag #MadarakaDay

On the 1st of June, 2022, Kenya celebrated its 59th year which commemorates the day that Kenya
took power (Madaraka) or attained independence from British rule. It is this day that the hashtag
#MadarakaDay started trending on twitter. The main finding of this analysis is the growing
tension, bad blood, and political rivalry between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President
William Ruto.
During the celebrations, the Head of the State failed to recognize the Deputy President’s
presence at the function which, in our understanding, was considered a breach of protocol. The
president went ahead in acknowledging key guests before skipping Ruto. Kenyans, who
anticipated to listen to the Deputy President were left shocked and disappointed.
The analysis below shows users’ activities and statistics with this hashtag.

Number of times the hashtag was shared

Below are statistics indicating the Tweets and the number of times it was amplified on Twitter in
terms of retweets, mentions etc.
Top Relationship in Entire Graph Entire Graph Count
Retweet 14526
Tweet 3134
Mentions 430
Replies to 391
MentionsInRetweet 222

Top tweets using #MadarakaDay

The top tweets comprise of sentiments that are of political relevance while others have no
relevance.
Top Tweet in Entire Graph Entire Graph Count
Whom do you wish President Uhuru Kenyatta to handover power to? Matiangi 422
State House Nixon Korir Kibaki The DP Dynasties Pettiness HNIB IEBC DP
Ruto #MadarakaDay
https://t.co/FZUzlzJTHv
This is very important. I am glad that President Kenyatta mentioned this. 419
The family is the basic unit of society. It must be protected from destructive,
alien cultures.

#MadarakaDay https://t.co/gh9nuyhLBu

Who will you choose as your incoming President in the coming polls? 415
Dp Ruto 🔄 TWEET
Raila Odinga 💙 Like
#MadarakaDay https://t.co/R1YAEASQc3
If you are reading this tweet, Drink two glasses of water now. Protect your 374
kidneys.
#MadarakaDay
KENYA DECIDES🗳 2022 253
Which Team are You going to VOTE for on August 9th 2022 to Succeed
President Uhuru Kenyatta
#MadarakaDay Uhuru Gardens #MadarakaDay2022
RT🔄 DP Ruto Rigathi Gachagua Vs
Like❤ Raila Odinga Martha Karua https://t.co/fjFvfDUWdP
Kenyans matching away from Uhuru Garden after DP Ruto was denied chance 251
by the retiring president Uhuru Kenyatta to give his speech. Kenyans have
decided. Uhuru Maliza Uende

DP Ruto For President. #MadarakaDay https://t.co/ZB8MjAGDGk

Dear Uhuru Kenyatta, If you really did those things, we would be seeing and 237
feeling them. You wouldn't need to spend two hours telling us about them.
#MadarakaDay
I celebrate those who remain committed to guaranteeing the liberty of thought, 228
belief, expression, government and worship. Our resilience is because they are
#UNBOWED! #MadarakaDay https://t.co/U5xs0NDJZF
“DEBT… the only time debt is a burden to a nation is when the nation is led by 227
looters.” President Kenyatta #MadarakaDay speech
Paradox ; President kenyatta talks about rule of law & constitution yet he 225
violates the same by disrespecting Presidency by not recognising Dp Ruto .A
threat to the constitutional institutions. Jayden Malize uende. #MadarakaDay

Example of top irrelevant tweet shared with the #MadarakaDay with no political relevance
 Graph Analysis of the #MadarakaDay
The diagram below depicts various tweets organized by relationships. The size of each group or
cluster varies depending on the number of tweets, retweets, mentions, and so on. G1, G2, G3,
and G4 are the top groups.

Top Tweets in top 4 clusters with the #MadarakaDay

Note – Some tweets may be irrelevant
G1
Top Tweet in G1 Coun
t
“DEBT… the only time debt is a burden to a nation is when the nation is led by looters.” 203
President Kenyatta #MadarakaDay speech
I celebrate those who remain committed to guaranteeing the liberty of thought, belief, 195
expression, government and worship. Our resilience is because they are #UNBOWED!
#MadarakaDay https://t.co/U5xs0NDJZF
President Kenyatta skips DP Ruto in protocol breach during #MadarakaDay celebrations 151
https://t.co/eEPZ8vEqVU
If it is the wish of Kenyans come August 9 2022, we will have the first female deputy President 116
of the Republic of Kenya ~ President Kenyatta #MadarakaDay https://t.co/ZHR8ckfwzj
“This park (Uhuru Gardens) had become a den of thieves… part of it was in the hands of 108
unscrupulous individuals. We have reclaimed it.” President Kenyatta #MadarakaDay speech
Azimio army Retweet here we need to remind the Kenya Kwisha Minions that ,Wachana na CS 106
Matiangi was the response DP Ruto gave us in 2017 ,Now Azimio says, Achana na interior PS
Karanja kibicho , Achana na ICT CS Joe Mucheru ,Tag Itumbi, Sudi and subreme goat 😂🧠🔨
#MadarakaDay https://t.co/T2ogDUUCn9
Military personnel at Uhuru Gardens for Madaraka Day celebrations. #MadarakaDay 90
https://t.co/moeH8lH5Nw
DP Ruto wasn’t invited to State House Madaraka Day ceremony – Aide #MadarakaDay 77
https://t.co/qRi35vAPuw https://t.co/e8JeEX65Gx
This Citizen tv camera person apewe kitu. I suspect she must be a lady. What do you think? 70
@ItsMutai #madarakaday2022 #MadarakaDay Uhuru Gardens. Video via Citizen Tv
https://t.co/OF9nO81jjK
Martha Karua: If I was to pick a single thing, I would say President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 62
administration has been big on infrastructure and we have to give it to him. #MadarakaDay
https://t.co/zTfWRRsyHR

G2
Top Tweet in G2 Coun
t
Kenyans matching away from Uhuru Garden after DP Ruto was denied chance by the retiring 233
president Uhuru Kenyatta to give his speech. Kenyans have decided. Uhuru Maliza Uende

DP Ruto For President. #MadarakaDay https://t.co/ZB8MjAGDGk

Dear Uhuru Kenyatta, 214
If you really did those things, we would be seeing and feeling them. You wouldn't need to
spend two hours telling us about them. #MadarakaDay
Paradox ; President kenyatta talks about rule of law & constitution yet he violates the 195
same by disrespecting Presidency by not recognising Dp Ruto .A threat to the constitutional
institutions. Jayden Malize uende. #MadarakaDay
DP Ruto will get many sympathy votes courtesy of the state mishandling, mine included. 185
#MadarakaDay
If you believe DP Ruto is the next Commander in Chief Retweet And Like 156
#MadarakaDay Boniface Mwangi Matiangi Ruto Sudi https://t.co/f7ymDKo9fC
No one will remember what President Uhuru Kenyatta says today. No one will even care about 118
it. President Uhuru has cemented his legacy of pettiness today by denying the 2nd in command
a chance to say something at #MadarakaDay celebrations. Absolutely shocking!
If You Believed current Dp Ruto will be next president of Kenya. 117
Like this photo @WilliamsRuto
#MadarakaDay https://t.co/tfSk75JtEg
Ata kama uko Azimio, you should not support this kind of disrespect. DP Ruto is a leader in 113
this nation whether you like him or not. Even if he is your worst enemy, treat him with respect.
How can you deny him a chance to speak on such an important day? #MadarakaDay
Uhuru calls his critics - "afro-pessimists bombarding us with nonsense"... Really? Are you that 108
so perfect? Talk about the level of taxation, graft and over-borrowing yet the cost of living
crisis is so huge and almost beyond the elasticity point #MadarakaDay Goodbye Mr President
https://t.co/fZZ3MhUzmo
The pettiness with Uhuru is on another low level. Go tell him sisi hatutishwi, hatupangwingwi! 101
He only has few days remain to go back to Ichaweri to watch how a country is managed by
hustlers for hustlers. We are African and Africa is our business! #MadarakaDay

G3
Top Tweet in G3 G3
Coun
t
Whom do you wish President Uhuru Kenyatta to handover power to?Matiangi State House 402
Nixon Korir Kibaki The DP Dynasties Pettiness HNIB IEBC DP Ruto #MadarakaDay
Pandora Kibicho Citizen TV CS mucheru.
Retweet for Like for Raila
William Ruto Odinga https://t.co/FZUzlzJTHv
Who will you choose as your incoming President in the coming polls? 394
Dp Ruto 🔄 TWEET
Raila Odinga 💙 Like
#MadarakaDay https://t.co/R1YAEASQc3
KENYA DECIDES🗳 2022 235
Which Team are You going to VOTE for on August 9th 2022 to Succeed President Uhuru
Kenyatta
#MadarakaDay Uhuru Gardens #MadarakaDay2022
RT🔄 DP Ruto Rigathi Gachagua Vs
Like❤ Raila Odinga Martha Karua https://t.co/fjFvfDUWdP
Intelligence has revealed that Azimio is more likely to win, how about voters? #MadarakaDay 63
Martha Karua Kibaki Dynasties Uhuru kenyatta Nixon Korir Pandora Trio Mio Itumbi Jayden
Matiangi DP Ruto IEBC.
Retweet for Ruto Like for Raila
Gachagua. Karua. https://t.co/HRNSMPCinU
If you believe DP Ruto is the next Commander in Chief Retweet And Like 39
#MadarakaDay Boniface Mwangi Matiangi Ruto Sudi https://t.co/f7ymDKo9fC
Choose your president 9
Retweet for Dp Ruto
Like for Raila Odinga
#MadarakaDay petty https://t.co/GOtzjNl1Nt
"We cannot continue to claim Freedom casually.We must begin to Practice it and Jealously 8
Guard it against all Threats;Foreign & Domestic.Our Heroes paid the Price to Liberate our
Nation,We must pay the Price of Nurturing our Freedom"-🇰🇪President Uhuru Kenyatta

#MadarakaDay 2022 https://t.co/WO22sFW2rK

DP Ruto will get many sympathy votes courtesy of the state mishandling, mine included. 5
#MadarakaDay
If it is the wish of Kenyans come August 9 2022, we will have the first female deputy President 4
of the Republic of Kenya ~ President Kenyatta #MadarakaDay https://t.co/ZHR8ckfwzj
@GlenJeffKihanya No DP Ruto No #MadarakaDay https://t.co/i2a4KgBMHf 4
 G4
Top Tweet in G4 G4
Coun
t
This is very important. 371
I am glad that President Kenyatta mentioned this.
The family is the basic unit of society. It must be protected from destructive, alien cultures.

#MadarakaDay https://t.co/gh9nuyhLBu
If you are reading this tweet, 312
Drink two glasses of water now.
Protect your kidneys.
#MadarakaDay
Kenyans, 114
Happy Madaraka Day!
Self-rule begins in our mindset.
Unlock your mindset!

#MadarakaDay 🇰🇪
Wishing the great people of Kenya a Happy Madaraka Day! 8
#MadarakaDay https://t.co/w48YPCSTsa
Dear Uhuru Kenyatta, 6
If you really did those things, we would be seeing and feeling them.
You wouldn't need to spend two hours telling us about them.
#MadarakaDay
Military personnel at Uhuru Gardens for Madaraka Day celebrations. #MadarakaDay 6
https://t.co/moeH8lH5Nw
DP Ruto can address his fellow hustlers from Kamariny and Wote Stadiums. 5
#MadarakaDay
DP Ruto will get many sympathy votes courtesy of the state mishandling, mine included. 5
#MadarakaDay
Incoming Murang'a County senator @Belive_Kinuthia is wishing you a happy #MadarakaDay. 4
https://t.co/D7XUhM6vQF
Happy #MadarakaDay https://t.co/tAxYX1jChg 4

What Twitter users think about the breach of protocol at the Madaraka Day celebrations
(Tensions between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto)

 “President Kenyatta skips DP Ruto in protocol breach during #MadarakaDay

celebrations”
 “DP Ruto wasn’t invited to State House Madaraka Day ceremony – Aid e
#MadarakaDay”

 “Kenyans matching away from Uhuru Garden after DP Ruto was denied chance by the
retiring president Uhuru Kenyatta to give his speech. Kenyans have decided. Uhuru
Maliza Uende

DP Ruto For President. #MadarakaDay”

 “Paradox ; President kenyatta talks about rule of law & constitution yet he violates
the same by disrespecting Presidency by not recognising Dp Ruto .A threat to the
constitutional institutions. Jayden Malize uende. #MadarakaDay”

 “No one will remember what President Uhuru Kenyatta says today. No one will even
care about it. President Uhuru has cemented his legacy of pettiness today by denying the
2nd in command a chance to say something at #MadarakaDay celebrations. Absolutely
shocking!”

 “Ata kama uko Azimio, you should not support this kind of disrespect. DP Ruto is a
leader in this nation whether you like him or not. Even if he is your worst enemy, treat
him with respect. How can you deny him a chance to speak on such an important day?
#MadarakaDay”

 “DP Ruto will get many sympathy votes courtesy of the state mishandling, mine
included.
#MadarakaDay”

 “No DP Ruto No #MadarakaDay”