Gachagua, Martha Karua Top Google Search Trends Of 2022

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is the most-searched personality in Kenya in 2022, a report by Google Trends has revealed.

Gachagua was more searched than his closest rival, Azimio la Umoja principal Martha Karua, especially following their duel at the deputy presidential debate towards the end of July.

Kenyans had sought to know more about the former Mathira MP who was not only named President William Ruto's running mate on May 15, 2022 but also nicknamed 'Riggy G' by Ivy Chelimo, a lifestyle influencer, content creator and law graduate from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).

Data released by the global search engine goes on to show that Kenyans' interest in Gachagua spiked during the General Election month, especially between August 14 and 20. Among the top searches included ‘who is Rigathi Gachagua’ and ‘Rigathi Gachagua father’.

As for Karua, she became popular after she was picked as the running mate of former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga on May 16, 2022, despite the popularity not being enough for Raila to win the elections after four times in a row of losing.

George Wajackoyah of the Roots Party was an unexpected third having gained popularity among Kenyans for his promise to legalise marijuana in the country if elected president. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja followed him in fourth.

Also amongst the most searched personalities include former IEBC vice-chairperson, Juliana Cherera and her boss, Wafula Chebukati, given the frosty relations between them that took centre stage on the day of declaring the winner of the August 9 presidential elections.

In general trends, the IEBC portal emerged as the most-searched item after the commission availed it to all Kenyans to tally the results of the August elections by themselves.

Coming in second and third were sports topics, with Kenyan football fans searching for fixtures of the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Among the most searched questions included 'What is Form 34A?' in reference to the document used to record results from 46,229 polling stations all the way to the National Tallying Centre at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi. 

Here is the full list:

Trending General
1) IEBC Portal
2) World Cup 2022 Fixtures
3) AFCON
4) KNEC Portal
5) KUCCPS Portal
6) Kenya Elections 2022
7) Pakakumi
8) Climate Change
9) COVID-19 Registry
10) Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Trending Local Personalites
1) Rigathi Gachagua
2) Martha Karua
3) George Wajackoyah
4) Johnson Sakaja
5) Kalonzo Musyoka
6) Ezekiel Machogu
7) Juliana Cherera
8) Wafula Chebukati
9) Sabina Chege
10) Ferdinand Omanyala

IEBC chairman, Wafula Chebukati, during a past media briefing. /TWITTER

Trending Lyrics
1) Rush Lyrics
2) Tushangilie Kenya Lyrics
3) Sugarcane Remix Lyrics
4) Girlfriend Lyrics
5) Calm Down Lyrics
6) Finesse Lyrics
7) Overdose Lyrics
8) Cough By Kizz Daniel Lyrics
9) For My Hand Lyrics
10) Love Nwantiti Lyrics

Trending What is (General)
1) What is innovative gardening?
2) What is form 34A?
3) What is happening in Ukraine?
4) What is NATO?
5) What is freemason?
6) What is GMO?
7) What is state capture?
8) What is subsidy?
9) What is opaque?
10) What is coding?