Raila, ‘Kasongo’ and ginger shots top Kenyans’ Google searches in 2025

The report shows that Kenyans used Google to make sense of the events shaping their lives, ranging from politics and sports to music, wellness, and cultural curiosity.

The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga dominated the search landscape, particularly following his death on October 15, 2025. 

His passing triggered a nationwide wave of tributes, reflections, and questions, making him the top trending public figure and the most searched loss of the year.

Queries such as “Where is Raila Odinga?” and “Who is Raila Odinga?” surged immediately after news of his death. 

National health policy also drew significant attention, with the Social Health Authority (SHA) ranking among the top-searched topics.

 Kenyans were keen to understand the new healthcare system and its implications, indicating a population actively engaging with governance and public services.

Sporting events continued to capture the nation’s imagination.

The African Nations Championship (CHAN) emerged as Kenya’s most-searched news item, highlighting the country’s passion for football. 

Athletics star Faith Kipyegon was the most searched sports personality, while global football figures such as Benjamin Šeško and Diogo Jota — the latter also having passed away in 2025 — generated widespread searches. 

These trends show that Kenyans remain deeply engaged in both local and international sports.

Kenyans also searched for understanding in cultural, social, and geopolitical matters. 

Locally resonant terms like “jowi,” “kubant,” “saba saba,” and “wantam” trended, while globally oriented questions such as “Who is the new pope?” and “What is happening in Sudan?” reflected a population keen to grasp both local cultural shifts and international developments.

Wellness and food were equally popular topics.

Ginger shots recipes led culinary searches, as many embraced health-conscious home remedies. 

Comfort foods such as chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls, mini pizzas, and the Italian classic osso buco also trended.

Music searches in 2025 demonstrated a mix of nostalgia and contemporary sounds. 

“Jamaica Farewell”, the Harry Belafonte classic, topped lyric searches particularly after Raila's death as it was one of his favourite tunes. It was followed by Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”. 

Regional hits like Mbosso’s “Pawa”, Iyanii and Dufla’s “Dono Maber”, Toxic Lyrikali’s “Backbencher”, and the revived 1970s hit “Kasongo” also featured prominently.

 Popular songs included “Taya” by Okello Max and Bien’s “All My Enemies Are Suffering”, reflecting Kenya’s diverse musical tastes.