Google has unveiled its annual “Kenya’s Year in Search 2025,” providing a fascinating snapshot of the topics that captured the nation’s attention over the past year. The report highlights how Kenyans turned to Google to understand events spanning politics, sports, music, wellness, and cultural phenomena.
The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga dominated search activity, especially following his death on October 15, 2025. His passing sparked nationwide tributes, reflections, and questions, making him the top trending public figure and the most searched loss of the year. Searches such as “Where is Raila Odinga?” and “Who is Raila Odinga?” surged immediately after the news broke.
Health policy also drew significant interest, with the Social Health Authority (SHA) among the most searched topics. Kenyans appeared keen to understand the new healthcare system and its implications, demonstrating active engagement with governance and public services.
Sports remained a central focus. The African Nations Championship (CHAN) topped news-related searches, underlining Kenya’s enduring passion for football. Athletics star Faith Kipyegon emerged as the most searched sports personality, while global footballers Benjamin Šeško and Diogo Jota who also passed away in 2025 attracted considerable attention.
Cultural, social, and geopolitical matters were also prominent in search trends. Locally resonant terms like “jowi,” “kubant,” “saba saba,” and “wantam” trended alongside global queries such as “Who is the new pope?” and “What is happening in Sudan?” illustrating a population eager to stay informed about both domestic culture and international affairs.
Wellness and culinary interests featured strongly. Ginger shot recipes led health-conscious searches, while comfort foods like chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls, mini pizzas, and Italian classics such as osso buco were highly sought after.
Music searches reflected a mix of nostalgia and contemporary tastes. Harry Belafonte’s “Jamaica Farewell” topped lyric searches, particularly after Raila Odinga’s death, as it was one of his favourite songs, followed by Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Regional hits such as Mbosso’s “Pawa,” Iyanii and Dufla’s “Dono Maber,” Toxic Lyrikali’s “Backbencher,” and the revived 1970s track “Kasongo” also featured prominently. Popular tracks included Okello Max’s “Taya” and Bien’s “All My Enemies Are Suffering,” highlighting Kenya’s diverse musical palette.
