10 Most Read Stories On Viral Tea In 2025
You showed so much love and support for us since 2021, and in 2025, we want to give you something back.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Records tumble every year, or so as they say. 2025 was no different as Kenyans' love for Viral Tea's stories grew...and so did our quality.
In 2025, Kenyans were more online than ever, and we can say without doubt that this was the year that some of our stories made history, all as we went toe-to-toe with some of the biggest media brands in the country.
Our online fans searched for it all: expressways, exam results, media personalities, Raila Odinga, among others...anything that sparked nationwide conversation, we were there, or we drove them.
You showed so much love and support for us since 2021 that a United Kingdom (UK)-based publication, MEA Markets, voted us as the Best News & Entertainment Platform in Kenya 2025 at the prestigious eighth Annual African Excellence Awards, and in 2025, we want to give you something back.
We have compiled 10 of our most-read stories on Viral Tea's website in 2025, a ranking that takes into consideration the number of pageviews. As aforementioned, some of them broke historical records;
A person using his smartphone. /FILE
US Company Gives Update On Construction Of Ksh466B Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway
Taking the lead is our story on Everstrong Capital, a US-owned infrastructure investment manager with a presence in both the United States (US) and Kenya, announcing plans to commence the construction of the Nairobi to Mombasa Expressway in 2026.
The company, through its Senior Advisor Kyle McCarter, announced on Friday, April 25, that construction of the 440-kilometre highway is set to kick off in the first quarter of 2026.
McCarter also shared that Everstrong Capital plans to submit an official feasibility study to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) for approval in May this year.
"Update on delivery: submitting feasibility study in May, looking for on-time approval from Kenha & PPP, financial close by end of year & construction beginning Q1 2026," McCarter announced.
This story trended for close to four days and garnered a total of 11,806 pageviews, earning its place as the most popular story on our website...ever!
OUT NOW: How To Check KJSEA Results 2025
Even before the Ministry of Education officially announced the release of the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), we got wind of a section of Kenyans receiving Short Messaging Service (SMS) texts on how to check the results.
On Thursday, December 4, teachers, parents, and learners were instructed to retrieve the results by sending the candidate’s assessment number to 22263, a service that cost Ksh30. Once the SMS was sent, users received the full KJSEA report, including the learner’s selected schools aligned to their career pathway.
"To check a KJSEA learner's selected schools, send their assessment number to 22263. The SMS costs Ksh30," stated a notice issued by Kenya’s main telecommunications provider, Safaricom.
This story, another record breaker with 8,495 pageviews, spread like wildfire across WhatsApp groups and social media, to the point of even overwhelming our servers. It taught us one thing: that Kenyans demand vital information such as exam results for their children, their friends, and loved ones, and they want it...like now!
Ruto: How Those Who Failed In KCSE 2024 Will Join University In September
We have to confess that this was one story that bewildered us. Usually...or what the elders used to tell us, anytime you fail in KCSE 2024, your chances of joining a university are slim. The Head of State, however, thought differently.
President William Ruto explained on Monday, January 13, how the mid-year Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KCSE) exam series will allow students who failed or missed them to join universities and tertiary institutions in September.
Speaking at Lenana School Primary, Ruto stated that the exam would be conducted in the middle of the year, between June and July.
He also expressed that the government was working on ensuring that the exams are marked on time to allow those who attain the required grades to join their colleagues during the September intakes.
The Head of State went on to reveal that the exams will target those who did not sit for the exams, those who performed dismally in some subjects, and those who were sick during the exam period, thus unable to take the exams.
"Even those who sat for the exams and may have failed in one or two subjects, and they want to repeat the exam, they will be given another chance," he stated, adding, "We will expedite the process so that those who perform well can join their colleagues who are joining universities in September."
KCSE 2024 Results Released: How To Check
Viral Tea provided simple steps for checking the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam results after they were released by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Thursday, January 9, at the Mitihani House in Nairobi. According to CS Ogamba, 962,512 sat for the national examinations that concluded on November 22, 2024.
According to Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) CEO David Njegere, this represented a 7.19 per cent increase for the first time since 2020. This number is an increase from 899,453 students who sat for the same examination in 2023.
In his announcement, Ogamba announced that 17 subjects, including Maths, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, recorded improvements, while 10 subjects, including English and Home Science, recorded drops in performance.
The guide quickly became an essential read, and the abrupt spike in traffic was an indication that the release caught the country by surprise. Only the online method was available as candidates were not able to access their KCSE results through SMS code. This was after it was discontinued before the release of the 2023 results, following complaints by parents and students over the years.
How To Check KJSEA Results 2025 Online
In this article, we provided a guide on checking the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results online, as announced by the Ministry of Education on December 11.
Parents accessed the results online through the Ministry’s designated portal. By visiting https://kjsea.knec.ac.ke, they entered the learner’s assessment number and submitted it to view the full outcome, including subject scores and placement information.
The platform allowed users to download or print the result slip, and schools would also issue physical copies. Although the portal supported both mobile and desktop access, heavy traffic had potentially caused delays, and users were advised to retry if loading issues occur.
How To Check Grade 10 Placement for KJSEA Candidates 2025
Informing Kenyans is our motto and ahead of the reopening of schools in 2026, we provided another guide of checking the Grade 10 school placements for students who took the 2025 Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA).
Parents can find their child's placement by sending the KNEC assessment number via SMS to 22263 or by visiting the ministry's portal at placements.education.go.ke.
It is worth reminding that students must report to their assigned senior secondary schools by Monday, January 12, 2026.
What Happened To Jeff Koinange? Citizen TV Star Responds To Disturbing Rumours
The absence of renowned media personality Jeff Koinange from Citizen TV's prime time news bulletins sparked nationwide speculation, with disturbing online rumours claiming he had passed away.
Social media lit up after a wave of TikTok accounts posted claims that the veteran broadcaster had died. The unfounded rumours sparked panic among millions of his supporters and industry peers, several of whom reached out privately to confirm whether anything had happened.
Media personality Xtian Dela was among those seeking answers. In a WhatsApp chat he made public on his social media handles, Dela asked Koinange to verify he was okay as the online speculation escalated.
“Bro bro bro! You’re good? You’re safe? TikTok has me worried. They’re spreading rumors about your death. Just confirm you’re still here,” Dela wrote. Koinange responded almost immediately, dismissing the hoax with a short but calming reply, typing “Bro bro. I’m alive and kicking.”
Koinange’s absence from his Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) show on the country's most-watched TV station had been the talk of Kenya's digital space, with speculation rife regarding his status at the station, under Royal Media Services (RMS).
We reached out to sources at RMS, who told us that he had taken some personal time off, but did not disclose further details. They note that he still works for the media company. On December 10, he made his comeback to the station.
Arsenal Mourns Raila Odinga
The death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga brought the country to its lowest point this year, because this meant the loss of a political icon who has been present in Kenya for generations.
Odinga was a known and ardent supporter of English Premier League side Arsenal Football Club (FC), which joined millions around the world in mourning the death of Odinga, describing him as a “visionary leader and passionate supporter of progress and unity.”
In an official condolence message dated Wednesday, October 15, Arsenal extended its sympathies to the people of Kenya and Odinga’s family, lauding his “lifelong dedication to democracy and justice” as an enduring inspiration.
The late Raila was a staunch Arsenal fan and had attended the Gunners' home games at the Emirates Stadium in North London, United Kingdom (UK), on several occasions. However, his last visit, per his social media posts, was in March 2022 when the Gunners lost 2-0 to Liverpool.
US Govt Invites Kenyans To Teach Kiswahili In America; How To Apply
The United States (US) President Donald Trump administration introduced a rare opportunity for Kenyans interested in teaching in the American superpower. On Wednesday, April 23, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi announced that the program was specifically for Kenyans who wanted to teach Kiswahili.
Through the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program, selected individuals were to get the chance to teach Kiswahili in U.S. colleges and universities for one academic year, from 2026 to 2027.
The initiative aimed to expose American students to different cultures and languages by bringing in foreign language instructors to U.S. higher education institutions.
In the announcement, the U.S. Embassy urged interested candidates to submit their applications by May 16 this year. However, applicants must first verify that they meet the eligibility requirements for the program.
Makueni County was thrown into mourning following the passing of Sonnia Nzilani Musyoka, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture, and Tourism.
This was confirmed by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior. In a statement released on Saturday, November 22, the county boss revealed that she was found unresponsive at her home.
Nzilani gained nationwide attention after she came under fire for making controversial remarks that linked a girl’s death to her menstrual cycle. The controversy emerged earlier this year during the funeral of a 17-year-old girl who tragically lost her life in a crocodile attack while fetching water from the Athi River in Kithaayoni, Kathonzweni sub-county.
During the burial ceremony on Friday, January 17, Dr Nzilani suggested that the crocodile had attacked the girl because she was menstruating, claiming that crocodiles are drawn to the scent of menstruating women.
Not every story made it into the list of 10 to have drawn the most eyes in 2025; those that Kenyans searched for, shared widely, and kept referring back to. But some still sparked conversation.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) released the list of over 3,000 shortlisted candidates for various positions following its nationwide recruitment exercise held in October 2025. KNEC issued its warning to parents over a scam in which individuals were encouraging parents to reach out for supposed exam results manipulation.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi stunned the country through his admission that returns from Money Market Funds (MMFs) are on the decline and aren’t likely to recover soon, just as Kenyans were embracing MMFs as a method of saving.
After more than two years of uncertainty, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was eventually reconstituted, with its first major assignment being the management of by-elections across several constituencies.
The contests in Mbeere North, Malava, and Kasipul, among other areas, quickly turned into an early measure of the opposition’s political muscle against the dominance of the broad-based government as the country edges closer to the 2027 General Election.
County Official Sonnia Nzilani Found Dead At Home
See you in 2026!
Photo of a laptop and a phone at an office. /BUSINESS RADAR
