Murang’a, Homa Bay, Trans Nzoia, Kirinyaga and Nyeri are Kenya’s best-performing counties, a new survey shows.
The poll by Infotrak could give a hint of first-term governors who could have an easy ride in their re-election bid.
According to the report, Governor Irungu Kang’ata’s Murang’a ranks top with a 52 per cent score, followed closely by Gladys Wanga’s Homa Bay at 51 per cent.
George Natembeya’s Trans Nzoia (48) and Anne Waiguru’s Kirinyaga tie in third position, while Mutahi Kahiga’s Nyeri is fifth with a 47 per cent approval.
Apart from grassroots development, Wanga and Natembeya have lately been playing national politics, with the Homa Bay governor sometimes touted as a possible 2027 running mate for President William Ruto.
Natembeya, on the other hand, has taken over as the opposition voice in Western Kenya, with reports that he is being actively courted by Ruto’s adversaries.
Other counties ranked highly in the poll are Kisii of Simba Arati and Kisumu of Anyang’ Ny’ongo that scored 47 per cent.
Uasin Gishu (Jonathan Bii), Elgeyo Marakwet (Wisley Rotich), Makueni (Mutula Kilonzo Jr), Bungoma (Kenneth Lusaka) and Kiambu (Kimani Wamatangi) were ranked at 46 per cent.
The counties were rated best-performing in the provision of services in agriculture, health, education, roads and transport, energy, trade and tourism in 2024.
Other functions are environment and natural resources management, water management, social services, trade and tourism and county planning and development.
The CountyTrak polls were conducted between October and December 2024 covering all 47 counties, 290 constituencies and 1,450 wards with a sample of 39,795 respondents.
The poll reveals a direct correlation between the performance of the counties and the popularity of individual governors.
It shows that governors whose counties ranked high in performance were also listed as the most popular.
Governor Kanga’ta, whose county was ranked top in performance, was also the most popular with a rating of 68 per cent.
The soft-spoken Kang’ata has been praised for his people-oriented programmes and projects such as the Kang’ata Care – a unique universal health coverage programme.
Natembeya is the second most popular governor (64 per cent), followed by Wanga (61 per cent), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu, 59 per cent), and Mutula Jr (Makueni, 57 per cent).
Besides his performance, Natembeya has been in the limelight playing national politics.
The county boss is seen as an upcoming national leader whose influence transcends his county and western region.
In Homa Bay, Wanga has been seen as a potential running mate of President William Ruto in the 2027 polls.
“This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to transparency, efficiency, and collaborative partnerships, which are driving meaningful progress across the county,” Wanga said, welcoming the poll results.
She added that the poll underscored the trust and confidence the residents have placed in “our people-centric, ward-based programmes”, which impact households throughout Homa Bay.
Wanga was ranked the top-performing female governor in 2024 followed by Fatuma Achani (Kwale) and Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga).
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti and her Meru counterpart Kawira Mwangaza were fourth and fifth.
Overall, they ranked 18 and 24 respectively.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi, whose Kiambu county ranked eighth in the survey, said his administration has constructed 247 ECDE classrooms and introduced a free meals programme.
The county is also giving free learning materials.
In health, he is constructing six new level-four hospitals in Thogoto, Lari, Karuri, Juja, Githunguri and Bibirioni.
According to the survey, Lamu and Kilifi ranked ninth at 45 per cent followed by West Pokot, Tharaka Nithi, Nakuru, Kwale, Migori and Samburu at 44 per cent.
Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Kitui, Taita Taveta, Narok and Mombasa were rated at 43 per cent while Kericho, Embu, Busia, and Turkana followed at 42 per cent.
According to the report, Murang’a (51 per cent), Trans Nzoia (51 per cent) and Elgeyo Marakwet (51 per cent) are the best performers in agriculture.
Homa Bay, Murang’a and Kirinyaga emerged as the best performers in health at 53 per cent, 52 per cent and 46 per cent respectively.
In education, Murang’a, Homa Bay and Trans Nzoia ranked the best while Homa Bay, Murang’a and Kirinyaga ranked high in performing roads and transport functions.
Murang’a, Nyeri and Kirinyaga were the top performers in energy while Murang’a, Homa Bay and Kirinyaga were the top three in the trade and tourism function.
In terms of popularity, governors Wisley Rotich (Elgeyo Marakwet), Simba Arati (Kisii), Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) and Wamatangi (Kiambu) ranked high at 57, 55, 54 (tie) and 53 per cent respectively.
