Garissa University attack, Nerea song top April Google search trends

NAIROBI, KENYA: Garissa University terror attack that claimed close to 150 lives is the top trending search on Google this month, according to Google search trends, a publicly available tool that reveals search patterns over a specific period time. The attack necessitated an indefinite closure of the university, which is owned by Moi University. 

Xenophobia emerged the second trending search after attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa erupted. This sent many Kenyans online to get updates of the xenophobic attacks that left several people dead and thousands displaced from their homes.

Kenyan's love for football persisted as revealed  by search of English Premier League (EPL) on Google. EPL was number three on top trending searches with probable searches being fixtures and EPL standings.  

The Kenyan Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) was a major spot for students who visited the website to revise Degree and Diploma programmes for the 2015/2016 placement. The exercise started on April 20th, and came to a close on May 4th 2015.

Other items that made it to the top ten trending searches include: Recce Squad, the special forces unit within General Service Unit (GSU) that went to salvage the situation at Garissa University following the attack by Al Shabab militants and Nepal Earthquake that killed thousands of people. Kenyans also searched for police recruitment to know where the recruitment was taking place as well as the entry requirements.

Nerea, the newest song by Sauti Sol was number eight on the list followed by Leonora Carrington, a British-born Mexican artist, surrealist painter, whose 98th birthday was marked by a Google Doodle on April 5th. The London Marathon 2015 that took place on April 26th 2015 was also searched by Kenyans who closely followed the activities as Eliud Kipchoge took first place on men's race while Mary Jepkosgei Keitany took the second position in women race.

On trending people, Martin Lawrence, an American actor and comedian led the pack after rumors about his death went viral.  The actor is best known for his roles in Big Momma’s House, Blue Streak or Bad Boys, and he’s confirmed to be alive. The second trending person was Leonora Carrington and Shoen Uemura, a Japanese painter was number. Google celebrated her birthday with a doodle.

Hussein Machozi, a bongo musician was the fourth trending person. There were rumors that he died during the month, which later turned out to be a hoax. Amy Schumer, an American actress and comedian was also searched as well as Bianca Lawson, Beyonce’s new step-sister after Beyonce’s mother (Tina Knowles) married Bianca’s father (Richard Lawson). Other names that trended are, Prof George Eshiwani, the former Principal of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and later, Vice-Chancellor of Kenyatta University following his death and Tina Knowles.

Jackson Biko, a renowned lifestyle writer also drew attention of Kenyans online who were keen to read his stories on his blog. The blog was also named the Best Creative Writing Blog during Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) Awards 2015. Kenyans also searched for Micha Stunz, a  German who enlarged his manhood with silicone injections.

During the month, sports trending searches were dominated by matches. Arsenal vs Chelsea, Arsenal vs Liverpool, Arsenal vs Reading, Arsenal vs Burnley, Monaco vs Juventus, Bayern vs Porto, Liverpool vs Newcastle and Leicester vs Swansea were the matches that interested football fans. Other sports related searches were: Indian Premier League (IPL), which kicked off on April 8, and London Marathon 2015.