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In a year wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenyans were  forced to spend their time at home sought comfort in football and kept up with US elections, according to Google’s 2020 Year in Search list shows.

English Premier League and US elections were the number one and two trending Search queries in Kenya respectively.

The dominant search queries on football were English Premier League, Serie A, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and La Liga.

Kenyans queried Google Search for tips on how to stay safe and healthy amidst the pandemic.

They searched for coronavirus in Kenya, the latest statistics, symptoms, prevention measures and vaccines.

The period also propelled lawyer Miguna Miguna, Babu Owino, Mutahi Kagwe, Mercy Mwangangi, George Magoha, Raphael Tuju rise to the list of top trending local personalities.

“The 2020 Year in Search lists not only reveal the most popular trends from the past 12 months, but also give insight into the biggest events in the news, politics, sports, entertainment and popular lockdown trends,” Google Head of Communications and Public Affairs for Africa Dorothy Ooko said.

Miguna dominated headlines when he was denied entry into Kenya while Babu Owino attracted interest after he was accused of shooting a DJ in a club in Kilimani.

Mutahi Kagwe and Mercy Mwangangi rode to stardom as they appeared on TV screens everyday to announce new Coronavirus infections and deaths.

International personalities

The most searched international personalities were Joe Biden, North Korean leader KIM Jong Un and Kamala Harris.

The deaths of TV personality Papa Shirandula, US basketball player Kobe Bryant, former president Daniel Moi, writer Ken Walibora, Keroche Breweries founder Tabitha Karanja’s daughter Tecra Muigai’s death also sent Kenyans asking for answers on Google. 

The most searched movies and TV shows were Money Heist, local TV shows Maria and Ringo as TV viewership hit record levels.

At a time when many had been laid off from work and were experimenting on new businesses, the most searched query was; how to file nil returns.

They also wanted to know how to open a pdf file together with checking their NHIF status.

Many turned online to know what Coronavirus is and Dexamethasone drug which was found to have benefits for critically ill Covid-19 patients in the UK.

When the Tanzania allegedly stopped publishing virus cases, declaring the country ‘Covid-19 free’, it caught the attention of Kenyans.

They searched for Tanzania’s Covid cases as the World Health Organisation faulted Tanzania strategy .

Kenyans also sought to find out the reopening dates for schools. Reports that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had contracted Covid-19 and escalating deaths in Italy. 

Kenyans also searched for the London Marathon after it was confirmed that World Record holder, Eliud Kipchoge, would participate. This is after Kipchoge broke the 2-hour marathon mark in 2019.