Queries on how to procure an abortion were among the most persistent searches by Kenyans, according to a Google report that analylised search trends this year.
The Google Zeitgeist 2012 report, released Wednesday, shows the number one trending search in the “how to” category was by Kenyans seeking instructions on how to abort.
A search is defined as ‘trending’ when it garners high traffic over a sustained period. Abortion is illegal in Kenya unless where a mother and her baby are in danger.
But Kenyans also wanted to know how to conceive, at number four in this category, and how to seduce and romance at number six and eight respectively.
Rounding out the top 10 in this category is how to abort, to drift, to make (something), to conceive, to study, to seduce, to type, to romance, to invest and to geek.
Local news channels failed to make it in this year’s top 10 most searched items in the Internet, despite continued efforts by local media firms to strengthen their online divisions.
“In the last year’s survey, a number of local media houses featured among the top 10 sites searched for news content and other related information. However, the landscape has changed this year,” said Google’s Country Director Joseph Mucheru.
Leading the list for overall trending Kenyan searches this year was the Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission (IEBC).
“Kenyans flocked the Internet in search of information related to the General Election and out of curiosity, many wanted to learn more about the voting process,” Mucheru said.
Application process
“Traffic to the commission’s site was also driven by the search for jobs – whose application process was electronic.”
Others who made it to the top five list was the social media site Facebook, the late American singing legend Whitney Houston – who passed on in February – mobile video search engine Tubidy, and Euro 2012.
Kenyans also went online to find more information about famous personalities making the news, with politicians dominating the most searched for local personalities.
They included the late veteran politicians Njenga Karume, Prof George Saitoti and John Michuki who created legacies through their public service, Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s former advisor Miguna Miguna, and aspiring presidential candidate Peter Kenneth.
Renowned media personalities Louis Otieno, and musician Prezzo, who participated in the Big Brother Africa Stargame were also among the local personalities most searched for on Google, with Olympics star David Rudisha and former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza rounding off the list.
Source:http:standardmedia.co.ke
