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Raila Odinga, Faith Kipyegon, SHA top Google searches in 2025
Among Kenya’s top Google searches in 2025 were former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who passed away on October 15, 2025 (left), and Olympic gold medallist Faith Kipyegon, who celebrated her 1500m victory at Tokyo’s National Stadium on September 16, 2025.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, world champion athlete Faith Kipyegon, and the Social Health Authority (SHA) were the most searched topics by Kenyans this year, according to Google.
The annual 'Year in Search' report, now in its fifth year, reveals the questions, curiosities, and cultural moments that captured the nation’s attention and provides a window into what Kenyans were thinking, talking about, and exploring online.
Raila Odinga dominated public interest, with searches mostly linked to the term 'enigma meaning', which surrounded his political persona. Kenyans also followed his statements, engagements, and public appearances closely.
In the year under review, sports also captured the hearts of the nation, with Faith Kipyegon emerging as the most searched sports personality, attributed to her consistent excellence as a runner, which affirmed her status as a national icon.
"Football continued to unite and energise the country, with the African Nations Championship, popularly known as CHAN, becoming the most searched news item," Google said.
Similarly, interest in global football stars, including Slovenian player Benjamin Šeško and Portuguese player Diogo Jota, whose passing left a mark on fans, also trended strongly, blending local passion with international attention.
SHA became a central topic of discussion in 2025 as Kenya transitioned from fragmented healthcare schemes to a more structured national system.
In their search, Kenyans sought to understand how the new authority would streamline access to medical services, introduce standardised benefit packages, and improve financial sustainability for both patients and private health facilities.
"Questions about registration processes, contribution rates, service delivery, and compliance with the new system drove online searches, reflecting the public’s keen interest in how SHA would affect everyday healthcare access and affordability," said Google.
Kenyans also spent the year exploring language, culture, and global events. Searches for terms like conclave, habemus, and papam accompanied curiosity about the new pope, while interest in international figures such as Charlie Kirk indicated an awareness of global political developments.
Locally, searches for jowi, kubant, saba saba, demure, and wantam reflected evolving language and cultural conversations, while questions about Sudan and Congo highlighted the public’s engagement with global geopolitical shifts.
In kitchens across Kenya, the year was marked by a mix of health-conscious habits and indulgent cooking. Ginger shots led culinary searches, reflecting a focus on wellness and home remedies, while comfort foods and creative dishes such as chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls, dawa, mini pizzas and osso buco captured the public’s imagination.
Meanwhile, music trends painted a vivid picture of Kenya’s cultural landscape, blending nostalgia with contemporary hits. Harry Belafonte’s Jamaica Farewell became the most searched lyrics, resonating widely alongside modern tracks like Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us. Regional hits, including Mbosso’s Pawa, Donjo Maber, Iyanii with Dufla Diligon, and Toxic Lyrikali’s Backbencher, illustrated the richness and diversity of the music scene.
The year’s top songs, such as Jamaica Farewell, Taya by Okello Max, and Bien’s All My Enemies Are Suffering, shaped the soundtrack of 2025, reflecting a dynamic interplay between the old and the new.
