World under-18 athletics, Deputy President debates stoke Twitter conversation
What you need to know:
- From July 14 to 20, Kenyan Spirit drove one in three tweets related to the 10 election topics that the Nation Media Group is tracking
- This is the first time this topic, which usually languishes in the bottom three, was top.
- More than half (53 per cent) tweets that mentioned Mr Odinga focused on security.
The ability of sports to bring Kenyans together was evident when Kenya Spirit dominated Twitter conversation in the past week, a review of Twitter talk by NationNewsplex and @Twitter reveals.
In the week under analysis, from July 14 to 20, Kenyan Spirit drove one in three tweets related to the 10 election topics that the Nation Media Group is tracking. This is the first time this topic, which usually languishes in the bottom three, was top.
Interest in the subject was driven by the performance of Kenya in the International Association of Athletics (IAAF) World U-18 Championships, where Kenya won 10 medals and a congratulatory tweet to the team by Olympic and World Champion David Rudisha.
The 800m world record holder@rudishadavidsaid: “I upload (sic) Kenyans for breaking the record of the highest attendance ever in#wu18Nairobi2017#50,000! Amazing Kenyan spirit in athletics.” The tweet had 846 retweets, 1,609 like and 209 replies.
@Brianmbunde, responding to@rudishadavidand those who were correcting his English, said: “If Rudisha says it's upload then it's upload.” The response got 1,061 retweets, 564 likes and 38 replies.
The trending sentiments related to the topic were love and congratulations.@sara_kemunto tweeted: “#IAAFWU18GrandFinaleKenyans' excellence in this aint just about training, but passion, determination, never giving up attitude &lastly the Kenyan spirit!”
@petwaweru“The mood in Kasarani during the 800m finals was electrifying, we were all standing n’ cheering. True Kenyan spirit.#JazaKasa#WU18NAIROBI2017”
Other topics being tracked by Nation Media Group include food and water, economy, land reforms, devolution, education, health, security corruption and Jobs.
Which party was most-talked about?
Jubilee was the most talked about with 62,732 tweets referencing the party, double the tweets that mentioned the National Super Alliance (31,338).
Conversations on Jubilee’s peak day, July 20, were fuelled by Deputy President William Ruto’s breakfast interview with Capital FM at his Karen residence and former Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwott’s burial at Maria in Elgeyo Marakwet, which was attended by both Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto
The Court of Appeal ruling that allowing the Dubai based company Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing to proceed with printing the presidential ballot papers also featured prominently.
Backing the Deputy President,@ernest_kiirusaid: “#BreakfastWithRutoI wouldn't say uhuruto have failed Kenyans, I'd say they’ve underperformed. KE headed the right way, on a slower rate than expected.”
Conversations on Nasa’s peak day, July 14, were fuelled by an NTV interview of Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga the previous night and the book he launched: The Quest for NationHood: Roadmap to Our Future.”
@ChipondaHarris1 said: “Raila Odinga has always fought for a Kenya for all Kenyans & THE QUEST FOR NATIONHOOD-The road map to our future sums it up#RailaBookLaunch.”
@Dannkasinawas not happy with ODM leadership. He tweeted: “@TheODMpartywas much in order when Henry Kosgei and Prof Anyang Nyongo were at the helm of leadership. Mbadi is very inactive#RailaSpeaks”
A tweet does not have to be supportive towards a political party or leader to be included in either category.
Who are the most talked-about candidates?
President Kenya was the most talked-about candidate, dislodging Mr Odinga from the top slot. He was referenced in 45 per cent of the tweets compared to 28 per cent them were related to Mr Odinga, who ranked second.
Almost half (48 per cent) of tweets that mentioned President Kenyatta were related to jobs.The topic gained momentum when@UKenyatta tweeted: “I want to finish the job of turning the foundations we have laid successfully into delivery of more jobs, lower prices & a secure country.
@VictorO78890129replying to @UKenyattasaid: “Good Mr President we love for the work you're doing, keep it up this is the Kenya we need”
@JakaBaba7 replying to @UKenyattasaid: “If there is the greatest n painful mistake You (sic) make is when you talk about jobs for the youths. Where are this (sic) jobs? better find a solution.”
More than half (53 per cent) tweets that mentioned Mr Odinga focused on security. The topic was fired by a tweet from the Nasa flagbearer@RailaOdingasaid: “Jubilee using tactics similar to 2013 elections, when NIS, GSU, Kenya Airport Police Unit, Traffic officers were recruited as polling clerks.”
@Okuthejohn1replying to @RailaOdinga said: “...let the police officers be published in paper....their names must be known by public. we r (sic) tired with this gvt..4yrs r mob.”@BillMbau “Lakini Baba, si 2013 you were the PM and Kalonzo was the VP? Why did you allow that to happen? “
Almost half of the 10,505 tweets that referenced the six other candidates and their running mates mentioned Mr Muthiora Kariara,who is the running mate to Independent Presidential candidate Japheth Kaluyu. Interest in Mr Kariara peaked after he was the only of six presidential running mates who turned up for and took part in a 90-minute debate televised debate.
At the end of the debate@KariaraMuthiora said: “Thank you Kenya for giving us the platform to present our vision for you. Vote for Change! Vote for Dr. Kaluyu and I! Thank You.#DebatesKE” The tweet has 4,655 retweets, 8,252 likes and 1,700 replies.
During and after the spotlight his twitter audience grew from 2,521 followers to 10,200 followers within 24 hours, according to screenshots taken by@OnyimboKerama.
A total of 102,787 tweets were related to the Election 2017.
