Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Social Health Authority of Kenya (SHA) were the most searched-for topics on Google by Kenyans in 2024.
This is according to the google report released on December 10, 2024, revealing details of its annual ‘Year in Search’ lists of top trends on its search engine.
SHA is the most looked-up news item on Google in Kenya this year.
The new public healthcare system was launched in October 2024 to replace the now-defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Additionally, the Finance Bill 2024 and the U.S. elections sparked interest among Kenyans, coming in as second and third top news searches this year, respectively.
The most-searched personality on Google in Kenya this year is former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached in October.
He is followed by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and her Defence counterpart, Soipan Tuya.
Meanwhile, top trending global personalities include political figures and entertainment personalities, led by Jamaican reggae and dancehall superstar, Vybz Kartel, U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump, and the controversial American televangelist Benny Hinn, who held a crusade at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi in February 2024.
In the sports category, Kenyans’ love for football was recognized in 2024, with the top search list being dominated by AFCON, which took place between January and February in Ivory Coast.
This was followed by Euro 2024, which was hosted in Germany between June and July. The research further revealed that a huge number of Kenyans also searched for the Olympics 202.
The death of popular social media content creator Brian Chira, who died in March, was the most searched loss by Kenyans.
Kenyans also went online to search about the deaths of renowned actor Charles Ouda and journalist Rita Tinina.
Other deaths that attracted the attention of Kenyans on social media include the death of Olympics marathon champion Kelvin Kiptum, Comedian Fred Omondi and Bishop Allan Kiuna of Jubilee Christian Church (JCC).
