A recent report by Google provided insight into some of the tasks Kenyans have been most eager to learn how to perform in 2024.
Through Google’s Year in Search annual report, the tech giant revealed that one of the most popular searches in the 'How to' category in Kenya was "How to register for SHIF".
The revelation comes as the government continues to grapple with the challenge of encouraging more Kenyans to register for the new affordable healthcare model.
In recent weeks, the Ministry of Health, led by PS Mary Muthoni has embarked on a mass sensitisation and registration drive across different constituencies in the country, with moderate success.
As of November 29, 2024, Kirinyaga led in the SHIF registration with 139,087 out of 610,411 of the target population registering for the government service. This constitutes 22.8% of its target population.
It has now emerged that a worrying number of Kenyans are not familiar with the registration process, with the search 'How to Register for SHIF' ranking number five in the most searched 'How to' videos in the country in 2024.
To put things in perspective, registration for the new Social Health Authority, better known as Taifa Care, began on October 1. In less than three months, 'How to register for SHIF' has overtaken a number of other top searches done by Kenyans throughout 2024.
In terms of the top trending news list for Kenyans this year, the Social Health Authority (SHA) led the line in what was a clear show of interest from Kenyans in the new healthcare system launched to replace the now-defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The bigger picture: SHIF registration is not the only service Kenyans are unfamiliar with if the Google report is anything to go by.
According to the Google report, Kenyans also heavily searched for 'How to apply for Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
'How to check KCSE results 2023' ranked first in the most searched items in the 'How to' category in Kenya.
Kenyans also searched 'How to update Token meter' - an exercise which was heavily pushed by the Kenya Power and Lighting Company in August 2024.
Other searches in the 'How to' category included how to become a pro skater, how to play aviator, how to hype up the sports team you support, how to demonstrate osmosis in living tissues and how to say hello in Italian.
