Busia County, under Governor Otuoma, has notably improved, climbing 15 ranks in planning and development, largely due to improvements in health, trade, and public participation. Meanwhile, Kiambu, led by Governor Kimani Wamatangi, has performed exceptionally well in education, building new classrooms and providing free food and learning materials
Murang’a County, under the leadership of Governor Irungu Kang’ata, has been ranked the best-performing county, with one in every ten residents expressing satisfaction with the services delivered.
The county tops a recent survey, which reveals that three out of every ten Kenyans feel their counties are in worse condition than they were a decade ago, following the onset of devolution. However, the top-performing governors in the country include Kang’ata, George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Mutula Kilonzo (Makueni), Welsey Rotich (Elgeyo Marakwet), Simba Arati (Kisii), Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), and Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu).
Despite a general belief that county services have improved, the statistics show a worrying downward trend in overall performance, dropping from 68% in 2015 to 65% in 2024.
The survey also ranked the most performing Senators, with Dan Maanzo (Makueni), Kamau Murango (Kirinyaga), Joel Nyutu (Murang’a), Okiyah Omtatah (Busia), and John Methu (Nyandarua) topping the list. In terms of MPs, Babu Owino (Embakasi West), Samson Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Joseph Simiyu Kalasinga (Kabuchai), Robert Mbui (Kathiani), and Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri) were noted as the top performers.
Women representatives who stood out included Jane Njeri Maina (Kirinyaga), Rose Museo Mumo (Makueni), and Joyce Bensuda Atieno Osogo (Homa Bay), among others.
Key issues raised by Kenyans for the decline in county performance included corruption, mismanagement of resources, poor delivery in key sectors like education and health, and unmet expectations from devolution.
Notably, counties in Western Kenya and President William Ruto’s Rift Valley stronghold have seen significant declines in their rankings since 2015, while counties in Central Kenya, especially under Governor Rigathi Gachagua, have shown performance improvements.
Murang’a County leads in most devolved functions, including agriculture, education, health, and infrastructure. Under Governor Kang’ata’s leadership, the county boasts high approval ratings, with 79% of residents claiming the county has improved since 2015.
Busia County, under Governor Otuoma, has notably improved, climbing 15 ranks in planning and development, largely due to improvements in health, trade, and public participation. Meanwhile, Kiambu, led by Governor Kimani Wamatangi, has performed exceptionally well in education, building new classrooms and providing free food and learning materials.
However, challenges remain, with counties like Nyamira, Nandi, Mombasa, and several others performing poorly, with approval ratings below 60%.
The survey results also highlighted the importance of continuity in leadership, as governors who completed projects left by their predecessors were ranked higher in terms of performance. This insight has been echoed by Infotrak’s CEO, Angela Ambitho, who also emphasised the need for county governments to adopt best practices from top-performing regions instead of costly foreign benchmarking trips.
As devolution continues to evolve, the survey results provide a clear roadmap for areas of improvement, as well as a recognition of the leaders who have made significant strides in delivering services to their constituents.
