How about we stop talking about grapheneOS and focus on that Kagi does call home to google? "My phone does not complain" whatever. Even Google themselves point out that the permission and code to call home to google is in the darn app.
Why does the app contain this code at all?
Why are you testing on a phone made by google, with google services? You have an android emulator button in your ide that gets you a fresh, clean, google-less android device. Or ar you looking for an excuse?
It's a bit embarrassing that I gotta keep telling your developers entry level knowledge. If you really want to advertise "privacy and no tracker" then actually stop making your apps report when, where and what purpose we're using your services for. To google of all places.