Top 10 most read stories on Citizen Digital in 2025

Every year tells a story. But some years don’t just pass, they stay.

In 2025, Kenyans searched, shared, argued, mourned, hoped, and laughed, often all in the same breath.

From quiet personal choices to national anxiety; from moments of heartbreak to stories that stopped the country in its tracks.

These were the stories you read the most. The ones that held your attention, stirred emotion, and shaped conversation.

This is not just a countdown. It’s a reflection.

Here are the ten most-read stories on Citizen Digital in 2025.

At number ten, in June this year, American singer Kelis spoke about her decision to relocate to Kenya, describing the move as deeply personal.

Kelis, who is popularly known for the 2009 hit song ‘My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard’, said Kenya offered her a sense of calm, freedom, and connection that she had been seeking.

She also revealed that she had bought 300 acres of land in Naivasha, driven by an interest in farming and food sustainability…as well as a mysterious desire to live among wild animals.

At number nine, Kenyans collectively sighed when the government, in January, announced plans that would see workers take home less pay from February, as new statutory deductions and increased contributions were set to come into effect.

The changes were the result of the Tax Amendment Act and the Tax Procedures Act which were signed by President William Ruto in December 2024, setting the stage for significant changes in Kenya's tax regime.

The laws led to an increase in VAT and excise duties, leading to higher costs for consumer goods and business operations, as well as a double rise in the NSSF deductions.

At number eight, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) opened its doors to thousands of hopeful applicants, announcing a nationwide mass recruitment exercise scheduled for October 2025.

The invitation covered General Service Officer cadets, Specialist Officers, and tradesmen and women, with clear guidelines on age, education, and physical fitness.

KDF urged interested candidates to apply through official channels only, warning against fraudsters who often exploit recruitment seasons.

For many young Kenyans, the announcement signaled discipline, purpose, and a chance at stable employment; a path defined by boots, order, and service.

At number seven, the internet stood still as young Kenyans identifying as Gen Z began sharing self-written eulogies on social media

The posts, written in calm, haunting tones, imagined death as a price they were willing to pay for accountability and change.

The trend shocked many, but supporters described it as a powerful form of protest; one that laid bare the fear, frustration, and courage of a generation that feels unheard. It wasn’t bravado. It was vulnerability, typed out in advance.

Number six was a story that stunned the South Nyanza right as February began. In a chilling incident, an SDA Church elder in Homa Bay County allegedly concealed a knife inside a Bible and stabbed another elder during a church service.

The attack reportedly stemmed from a love triangle, turning a place of worship into a crime scene.

Congregants watched in horror as the incident unfolded at the altar. The suspect was arrested, while questions lingered about unresolved personal conflicts spilling into sacred spaces. Faith, betrayal, and violence collided in a moment that left many shaken.

At number five, attention shifted to Addis Ababa and beyond. Citizen Digital in February published a list of at least 19 African countries that had publicly declared support for the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.

The endorsements signaled growing continental backing for Kenya’s long-time opposition leader.

The list highlighted diplomatic momentum, as Kenya positioned itself strategically within African leadership politics. Analysts noted that the endorsements reflected both Raila’s personal networks and Kenya’s broader foreign policy ambitions.

At number four, a heartbreaking video shook Kenyans online in September. Footage that was exclusively obtained by Citizen TV captured the final moments of a cleaning lady or ‘mama fua,’ as they ae popularly known, who fell to her death from a residential building in Kilimani, Nairobi.

The video showed the woman hanging precariously from an upper floor balcony as onlookers screamed, pleaded, and recorded in horror, powerless to intervene as the moments slipped away.

The incident sparked widespread grief and anger, with many Kenyans questioning the circumstances that led to the woman’s fall.

At number three, hope met frustration. As the 2024 KCSE results were released in January, thousands of candidates and parents were unable to access them after the KNEC website collapsed due to heavy traffic. Error messages replaced index numbers, and anxiety spread quickly.

KNEC acknowledged the technical challenges, urging candidates to be patient or use alternative access methods. For many families, the wait felt endless, as futures hung behind loading screens.

At number two, Kenya woke up to a political thriller as Juja MP George Koimburi was found alive but injured in a coffee plantation in Kiambu County, days after reports of his disappearance. His family claimed he had been abducted, sparking intense public debate.

Police launched investigations as questions mounted about motive, timing, and political context. The story gripped the nation, blending power, vulnerability, and uncertainty into one unsettling narrative.

At number one, the story Kenyans read, shared, and reread the most. Citizen Digital provided clear, step-by-step instructions on how candidates could check their KCSE 2024 results using their mobile phones.

The guide quickly became an essential read, shared widely across WhatsApp groups and social media.

These were the stories that drew the most eyes in 2025. The ones Kenyans searched for, shared widely, and kept returning to, again and again.

But they were not the only moments that shaped the year.

2025 also forced the country to confront loss on a much larger scale. The death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga marked the end of a political era; a moment that stopped the nation, sparked reflection, and rewrote Kenya’s political conversation.

Not every defining moment made this countdown. For instance, the IEBC was finally constituted after over two years in limbo, and their first task was conducting by-elections in various areas.

The battle for Mbeere North and Malava and Kasipul, among others, came as a testing ground for the opposition’s strength against the broad-based government’s might on the road to the 2027 contest.