Google Search Trends for Kenya that show search patterns for a particular period indicate that renowned secular musician Diana Chemutai, popularly known as Chelele, drew the highest amount of traffic on Google in January.
The mutilated body of the bubbly musician, praised for her classic Kipsigis hit songs, was found at her home in Kapkwen, Bomet County.
People seem to be interested in death news as David Bowie, an English singer and songwriter was the second most trending personality after he passed away on January 24th. Bowie was an English singer and songwriter. Third on the list was popular Mugithi singer, Salim Junior, who died in January. Salim is officially known as Paul Mwangi.
Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe, was the fourth most trending personality in January. Rumors of Robert Mugabe’s death drove Kenyans online after a letter by an anonymous author, surfaced online stating that he had suffered a heart attack, collapsed and died while on a trip to Singapore. Government spokesman George Charamba denied the reports and published his statement in the state-run Herald newspaper.
Kenyan rapper and self-proclaimed king of bling CMB Prezzo was the fifth most trending personality search after his interview on KTN on Friday, January 8.
Other names on the most trending list are: Alan Rickman – an English actor and director known for his role as professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter who died on Thursday, January 14; Natalie Cole – an American singer-songwriter and actress after she passed away on 31 December last year; Zinedine Zidane – after the 43 year old retired footballer was appointed coach of Spanish league team Real Madrid on Monday evening following the sacking of Rafael Benitez; Penny Sparrow – a South African real estate agent that allegedly took to her social media page to describe black beachgoers as “monkeys”, in an apparent reaction to litter left behind after New Year’s celebrations, and Iman Bowie – wife to the late singer David Bowie.