When former Prime Minister Raila Odinga died on October 15, 2025, Kenya turned to Google. People searched for funeral details, watched for updates on the procession to JOOUST in Bondo, and tried to understand what his passing meant for the country.
The searches were so intense that “enigma meaning,” a term long associated with Odinga’s political mystique, became one of the year’s most-looked-up phrases.
His family members dominated search traffic too. Winnie, Oburu, Ruth, and Rosemary Odinga all trended as Kenyans followed their public appearances during the mourning period.
Odinga wasn’t the only loss that gripped the nation’s attention. Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, whose death in 2025 shocked football fans worldwide, appeared high on Kenya’s trending searches.
The “Trending Loss” category also included Pope Francis, Charlie Kirk, journalist Kimani Mbugua, writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, and blogger Albert Ojwang, reflecting a year marked by key figures passing away.
Faith Kipyegon earned her spot as Kenya’s most-searched athlete, with fans tracking her world championship performances and record-breaking races throughout the year.
The African Nations Championship (CHAN) also topped news searches, showing that football remains central to Kenya’s sporting identity.
However, Kenyans weren’t just following local heroes. They searched for international players like Benjamin Šeško, João Pedro, and Xavi Simons, proving how deeply plugged in the country is to global football conversations.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) and “Afya Yangu” both ranked high in news searches, indicating genuine public concern about healthcare policy changes affecting everyday life.
READ: How to Check Your SHIF Status in Kenya: A Complete Guide
Uganda’s President Museveni also drew attention after making provocative claims about the Indian Ocean that ignited heated debates across social media.
Meanwhile, political figures like Charlie Kirk trended as Kenyans sought to understand global political conversations. Questions like “Who is the new pope?” and searches for “conclave meaning” and “habemus papam meaning” revealed an interest in understanding religious events and their larger implications.
Kenyans also spent 2025 trying to decode language itself. “Jowi,” “kubant,” “saba saba,” “wantam,” and “demure” all trended as people tried to keep up with evolving slang circulating on social media and in everyday conversation.
It should come as no surprise that digital skills became a priority in 2025. Searches for AI tools, virtual assistance courses, data analysis, digital marketing, and cybersecurity exploded, with some queries jumping more than 400% compared to 2024.
READ: 83% of Kenyan Firms Plan to Boost AI Security Spending in 2026
Kenyans increasingly explored online monetization, remote work opportunities, and digital entrepreneurship. PayPal and other fintech platforms cracked the top 20 searches, pointing to a shift away from traditional cash-based transactions toward digital financial solutions.
Musically, Harry Belafonte’s decades-old “Jamaica Farewell” led lyric searches, while Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and local hits from Mbosso, Iyanii, Toxic Lyrikali, and Bien all featured prominently.
Film and television searches centered on Supacell, Damsel, and Shogun, with people looking for episode guides, reviews, and cast information after clips went viral on social media.
Perhaps most telling was the rise in conversational searches. Google noted that “What’s the deal with…” queries increased significantly, while “Tell me about…” searches jumped 70% year over year.
“How do I…” questions reached an all-time high with a 25% increase from 2024, including questions like “How do I know if my Labubu is real?”
