Google Kenya 2025 searches: Raila Odinga, Yoweri Museveni, Faith Kipyegon top list
Google’s 2025 data shows Kenyans searching most for Raila Odinga’s death, evolving slang, star athletes and digital skills, revealing shifting interests in politics, culture and online opportunity.
Google has released insights into Kenya’s most-searched topics in 2025, painting a vivid portrait of a nation equally curious about politics, sports, technology, entertainment, and the shifting meanings of popular slang.
The passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on October 15, 2025, unsurprisingly topped search traffic. Kenyans closely followed updates on his funeral, including the procession to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Bondo, Siaya County, and details of the ceremony itself.
The term “Enigma”, long associated with Odinga in political commentary, emerged among the year’s top-trending keywords, underscoring the enduring fascination with his life and legacy.
Other members of the Odinga family also trended, with searches spiking for Winnie, Oburu, Ruth, and Rosemary Odinga as Kenyans tracked their public appearances.
Internationally, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni drew attention in November after provocative claims over the Indian Ocean sparked widespread debate across social media platforms.
Beyond politics, sports remained a unifying theme. Middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon was the most-searched athlete in Kenya, with fans celebrating her world-champion performances and record-breaking races.
Football enthusiasts also followed Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and other rising stars, reflecting Kenya’s growing interest in international football.
Searches in 2025 highlighted the rapid evolution of language online. Terms such as “Enigma”, “Jowi”, and “Conclave” were frequently looked up as users sought clarity on trending phrases circulating on social media.
Other popular searches included “demure,” “Kubant”, “Habemus Papam”, “Wantam”, “Ayurvedic”, “Saba Saba”, and “blood moon”, demonstrating curiosity across pop culture, faith, global events, and everyday language.
Digital literacy and technology featured prominently in search behaviour. Interest in AI tools, virtual assistance courses, data analysis, digital marketing, and cybersecurity surged, with some queries rising more than 400 per cent compared to 2024. Kenyans increasingly explored online monetisation, remote work, and digital entrepreneurship.
Fintech services also made their mark, with PayPal and other digital payment platforms ranking among the top 20 searches. This trend signals a growing reliance on digital financial solutions over traditional cash-based methods.
Music and film continued to captivate audiences. Harry Belafonte’s “Jamaica Farewell” led music searches, followed by Nathaniel Bassey’s “Adonai” and Mbosso’s “Pawa.” Other trending songs included Iyanni’s “Donjo Maber,” Toxic Lyrikali’s “Backbencher,” Kodongklan’s “Nyaduse”, Coster’s “Jowi”, Okello Max’s “Taya”, Bien’s “All My Enemies Are Suffering” and Chella’s “My Darling”.
In film and television, Kenyan audiences searched for Supacell, Damsel, and Shogun, often seeking episode guides, reviews, and cast details after viral clips and social media discussions.
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