Counties

Kakamega ranked best performing county

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Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Kakamega County is the best performing devolved unit in the country, a new survey that also ranks its Governor Wycliffe Oparanya top has shown.

The 2019/2020 Infotrak Countytrack Performance Index shows the county leading at 57.2 percent followed by Kwale (54.8 percent), Makueni (54.7 percent), Kisumu (53.4 percent) and Uasin Gishu (53.1 percent).

“Tana River (39.5 percent), Wajir (41.3 percent), Isiolo (42 percent) and Samburu (42.2 percent) are some of the least performing devolved units,” the study shows.

Governor Oparanya, who also doubles up as the current Council of Governors chairman, leads with 83.2 percent followed by Kwale’s Governor Salim Mvurya (77.1 percent) and Makueni’s Kivutha Kibwana (74.4 percent).

Underperforming governors including Samburu’s Moses Kasaine  (38.7 percent), Homa Bay’s Cyprian Awiti (41.3 percent), Nyamira’s John Nyangarama (42.5 percent) and Trans Nzoia's Patrick Khaemba (42.7 percent).

The survey, which involved a sample size of 37,600 respondents, was conducted between October and December 2019. 

“Overall, 73 percent of Kenyans feel that devolution has made a difference,” said Angela Ambitho, CEO Infotrak. 

“While most county governments spent the nascent period predominantly laying the groundwork and planning aptly in order to deliver on the promises, others grabbed the opportunity not only to lay the operating framework but also to actualise quick wins that have continued to resonate with the public,” said Ms Ambitho. 

A majority of Makueni and Kakamega citizens believe that their counties have brought changes at 90 percent.

“They are followed by Turkana and West Pokot (87 percent), Machakos (86 percent) and Kericho (82 percent).”

However, residents of Taita Taveta (48 percent), Tana River and Kiambu (56 percent) and Homa Bay (57 percent) and Trans Nzoia (58 percent) have the tiniest belief whether their counties have brought transformations.

The counties were graded on the delivery of key services such as health, agriculture, education, roads, energy, and other devolved functions.

“Each county was treated as an individual unit/universe and was allocated a quota sample that ranged between 600 and 2,000. All samples were designed at 95 percent degree of confidence,” said Ms Ambitho.