Irungu Kang’ata led Murang’a has been ranked the best county where one in every 10 people is satisfied with the services delivered.

Murang’a leads the pack in a survey ranking that also indicates that three of every 10 Kenyans now feel the counties are in a worse situation than they were a decade ago at the onset of devolution.

According to the survey, the top 10 performing governors are Kang’ata, George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni), Wesley Rotich (Elgeyo Marakwet), Simba Arati (Kisii), Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) and Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu).

Though most Kenyans felt that the counties are in better state, the statistics worryingly show a downward trend from 68 per cent in 2015, to a peak of 73 per cent in 2020 before reducing to 65 per cent in 2024.

Top performers

Top 10 most performing senators are Dan Maanzo (Makueni), Kamau Murango (Kirinyaga), Joel Nyutu (Murang’a), Okiyah Omtatah (Busia), John Methu (Nyandarua), Richard Onyonka (Kisii), Enoch Wambua (Kitui), Godfrey Osotsi (Kakamega), Joseph Githuku (Lamu) and Aaron Kipkirui Chepkonga (Kericho).

Top performing MPs are Babu Owino (Embakasi West), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Joseph Simiyu Kalasinga (Kabuchai), Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri), John Waluke (Sirisia), Peter Salasya (Mumias East), Erastus Nzioka (Mbooni), Danson Mwakuwona (Wundanyi) and John Okano Bwire (Taveta).

In the category of Women Reps, the top five are Jane Maina (Kirinyaga), Rose Museo (Makueni), Joyce Bensuda Atieno (Homa Bay), Elsie Muhanda (Kakamega) and Chepkemoi Kasiwai (West Pokot).

Increased corruption, leading to mismanagement of county resources, poor service delivery in key sectors like education and health, and unmet expectations on devolution are among the reasons that Kenyans cited for declining performance in their counties of residence.

Across the region, counties in Western Kenya that got the highest rankings of 59 per cent in 2015 have lowered their performance status to land in position three with a score of 44 per cent in 2024.

Similarly, counties in President William Ruto’s home tuff of Rift Valley that came second with a score of 56 per cent dropped a whopping 13 points to be are ranked a distant fourth with 43 per cent score.

Ruto’s newfound political nemesis, Rigathi Gachagua’s backyard of the central region has the best-performing governors currently across the country with an overall score of 47 per cent in 2024.

Overall, Murang’a County is in the lead in all the 47 counties with nine in every 10 residents giving positive approval that the devolved unit is better than it was in 2015.

Notably, Busia County led by Governor Otuoma who was lowly ranked also features prominently on the list of most improved counties in planning having moved 15 ranks (like Kiambu and Bungoma) from position 36 in 2023 to 21 in 2024.

Kiambu’s place

In the report, Kiambu’s Wamatangi has been rated position three in the Mt Kenya region after performing well in education, where he has constructed 247 centres with PP1 and PP2 classrooms, administrative offices, separate toilets for teachers and children, and play areas.

He has also been giving free food—uji daily, three boiled eggs weekly, and a packet of milk every Thursday, a move that increased the population of learners from 32,000 to 39,600 by the close of last night. The county is also giving free learning materials. In health, he is constructing six new level four hospitals: Thogoto, Lari, Karuri, Juja, Githunguri, and Bibirioni. 26 new level three hospitals are also underway.

The Kang’ata-led county and Homa Bay got almost similar ranking in all the major devolved functions including agriculture, health, education, roads and transport, energy, water management, trade and tourism, county planning and development, housing, lands and settlement, culture and sports, social services, public participation and planning.

Additionally, Wanga outshined her female counterparts who sit at the helm of counties with a rating of 51 per cent, followed by Kirinyaga’s Anne Waiguru with 48 per cent, then Kwale’s Fatuma Achani and Nakuru’s Susan Kihika tied at 44 per cent with Mbarire closing the top five rank with 42 per cent.

However, Trans Nzoia ousted the two counties in the environment and natural resources management sector with a score of 54 per cent compared to Murang’a and Homa Bay that tied in position two with a score of 53 per cent.

Homa Bay closely follows Murang’a with 79 per cent of the residents stating that the county has improved, then followed by Kisumu, Nyeri, West Pokot, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Kilifi, Makueni, Kisii and Elgeyo Marakwet all getting positive approval of between 70 to 78 per cent.

Nyamira is trailing among all the counties with barely half of the population (48 per cent) giving good ratings similar to Nandi, Mombasa, Marsabit, Isiolo, Tana River, Siaya, Bomet, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Laikipia and Meru that got a below 60 per cent of good performance rating.

In a survey conducted by Infotrak featuring the period between 2014 to 2024 when devolution has been in place, Kang’ata becomes the highly ranked governor with 68 per cent, followed by his Trans-Nzoia counterpart George Natembeya with 64 per cent, Homa Bay’s Gladys Wanga with 61 per cent, Kisumu’s Anyang’ Nyong’o and Makueni’s Mutula Kilonzo making it in the top five with 59 and 57 per cent respectively.

Infotrak Chief Executive Officer Angela Ambitho emphasized that governors who embarked on completing projects that were started by their predecessors got higher ranks than those who started new projects as the move enhanced the continuity of service delivery.

“The counties at the top of the ranks are those whose governors took over from where things were left incomplete, finished them and now are starting their own flagships. They got it right because it did not matter to them who initiated the projects compared to the benefits they render to the residents who depend on them,” Ambitho said.

Below par

Comparatively, on the list of shame is a total of 17 governors who got a below 50 per cent performance ranking with five county bosses- Cecily Mbarire (Embu), Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), James Orengo (Siaya), Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega) and Paul Otuoma (Busia) attaining on 44 per cent each.

Ambitho urged counties which were lowly ranked in key devolved functions to consider visiting best-performing counties for bench making rather than making expensive trips abroad at the expense of taxpayers’ money.

Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka was highly ranked among the list of repeat governors at 46 per cent while Waiguru topped the list of second-term governors with 48 per cent.

The Infotrak findings showed that a meagre 20 counties were the most improved in a span of one year between 2023 and 2024.
Kilifi is leading the pack having moved 22 ranks from position 35 in 2023 to position 13 in 2024, followed by Kiambu, Kisumu and Lamu who climbed 16 ranks to position eight, five and 13 respectively.

During the release of the data which is likely to spark mixed reactions among the governors, Infotrak’s boss tipped the public that it is paramount to evaluate the leader they vote for as county chief based on education, competence and experience.

“Look at the credentials of these governors that have done well. Ask yourself if indeed they have what it takes to actually manage the counties. If you don’t query these things, then you will see that your county will be at the bottom. Also, check if they have shown prudent fiscal management to ensure there is no pilferage in their counties,” Ambitho stated.