Madaraka Day 2025: William Ruto, Raila Odinga Dance as Entertainers Charge Crowd in Celebration
- Kenya's 62nd Madaraka Day was celebrated at the packed Raila Odinga Stadium, Homa Bay
- This year's theme was centred on harnessing Kenya’s blue economy for national prosperity
- Leaders, including President William Ruto, Raila Odinga, DP Kithure Kindiki, and Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, joined in dancing on stage
Kenya marked the 62nd year of independence on Sunday, June 1.
Source: Facebook
The 62nd Madaraka Day was celebrated in a colourful ceremony at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay.
The day was themed Harnessing Kenya’s Blue Economy for National Prosperity.
The 20000-seat capacity stadium was packed with Kenyans coming from different places to celebrate.
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Madaraka Day dance
The celebration reached the climax when entertainers took over the stadium to sing songs promoting national unity and peace, and President William Ruto, Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, Deputy President Kithure and ODM leader Raila Odinga left their seats to dance on the podium.
The leaders were all smiles as they gyrated to the songs.
Another video also showed children entertaining guests in their own style.
They danced, sang, and formed patterns, including arranging themselves to spell out HOMA BAY on the ground and creating a formation resembling a ship.
What did William Ruto do at Madaraka Day event?
During the celebrations, the president launched a new payment system for the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Source: Twitter
The Lipa Pole Pole initiative is designed to make SHA insurance contributions more accessible for Kenyans in the informal sector.
This new system allows citizens to pay their annual premiums in instalments or via flexible payment plans.
The president highlighted that this method will help families maintain access to healthcare services while supporting the sustainability of SHA.
He encouraged Kenyans to take control of their health by enrolling in SHA, emphasising that the reformed system will make medical care more affordable.
Why did Raila Odinga caution Ruto?
Speaking at the event, Raila urged Ruto to fully support devolution as mandated by the 2010 Constitution.
The ODM leader warned against reviving the provincial administration system.
Raila described the provincial administration as a colonial-era structure that has no place in contemporary Kenya.
He stressed the importance of strengthening devolution instead of recentralising power.
Raila also called on the president to encourage Members of Parliament to ensure county governments receive increased funding as stipulated in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
In his speech, the ODM leader also called on Ruto’s administration to provide compensation to affected families as a step toward promoting peace in the country.
He noted that the apologies made by political leaders during the National Prayer Breakfast, chaired by President Ruto, were just the beginning of the reconciliation process with Kenyan youth and their families.
Why was DJ Krowbar unhappy with Madaraka Day attendees?
In a related story, the stadium saw a massive turnout on the eve of the Madaraka Day celebrations, with many locals braving the cold night to secure their spots.
Photos from the night of Saturday, May 31, showed some attendees sleeping inside the stadium before the event, sparking mixed reactions.
DJ Krowbar criticised those caught sleeping at the stadium, labelling them as brainwashed.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
