#YIS2017KE: 2017 Kenya elections dominate Google’s Year in Search

 

Google always proves that searches often differ perceptions though 2017 being an electioneering period for Kenya and it was fit that Kenya elections and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) were the most searched.

Searches related to the elections occupied six positions on the list of ten top trending general searches as Kenyans keenly followed events surrounding the elections.

When Kenyans weren’t keeping up to date with the local political scene, they sought to find out more about prominent figures and global events. From Mwai Kibaki, Janet Kanini, Robert Mugabe, Joseph Nkaissery, Chris Msando to Jimmy Wanjigi, Kenyans demonstrated interest in these individuals who made news headlines in 2017. Questions on Catalonia’s independence, the tragic Hurricane Irma and the Zimbabwe coup also dominated online searches showing Kenyans’ desire to understand global experiences.

2017 searches concerning health seemed less with only five top searches, “I am not sure why the list was shorter this year, may be Kenyans were healthier this year except on the case of cholera outbreak which made the list,” said Dorothy Ooko, ‎Communications & Public Affairs Manager for East & Francophone Africa, Google.

Google launched Year in Search in 2010, an annual look at the year through the lense of Google Search Trends uncovering unique searches and queries through the collective eyes of the world on the web, offering a unique perspective on the year’s major events and hottest trends, reveals a collation of the events, people and searches that shaped 2017 locally and globally.

2017 was no different and as it drew to a close here is what grabbed the attention of Kenyans since the year began:

Top Trending Searches

1. IEBC Results
2. Gambia
3. KCPE 2017 results
4. Despacito
5. Tibim
6. Nasa Coalition
7. Jubilee Party
8. Nasa flag bearer
9. Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)
10. Presidential results

Trending People

1. Mwai Kibaki
2. Babu Owino
3. Ezra Chiloba
4. Janet Kanini
5. Nicholas Biwott
6. Robert Mugabe
7. Joseph Nkaissery
8. Nderitu Gachagua
9. Jimmy Wanjigi
10. Chris Msando

Trending Events

1. Kenya Elections
2. Lecturers’ Strike
3. Mayweather vs McGregor Fight
4. Confederations Cup
5. Africa Cup of Nations 2017
6. Zimbabwe coup
7. Hurricane Irma
8. Easter 2017
9. Catalonia independence
10. Ramadan 2017

Trending Sports Personalities

1. Alvaro Morata
2. Romelu Lukaku
3. Philippe Coutinho
4. Nemanja Matić
5. Ivan Perisic
6. Thomas Lemar
7. Cheick Tiote
8. Antonio Conte
9. Dennis Oliech
10. Floyd Mayweather

Trending Entertainment Searches

1. Despacito
2. Odi dance
3. Bazokizo
4. Zilipendwa
5. Shape Of You
6. Nyashinski Malaika
7. Big Brother Naija
8. Bet Awards 2017
9. Eunice Njeri Wedding
10. Beyonce Twins

Trending Health Searches

1. Guillain-Barré (GB) syndrome
2. How to lose weight
3. How to lose belly fat
4. How to get pregnant
5. Cholera

Trending “What Is… List”

1. What is Sarahah
2. What is a Pangolin
3. What is Bitcoin
4. What is Biology
5. What is Covfefe
6. What is old and new at the same time
7. What is Happening in Zimbabwe
8. What is the meaning of Tibim
9. What is Pesalink
10. What is IEBC

Trending “How To…List”

1. How to check KCPE results online
2. How to file KRA returns
3. How to make pancakes
4. How to write an application letter
5. How to lose belly fat
6. How to make money online
7. How to bake a cake
8. How to create a website
9. How to get pregnant
10. How to write a report