Best Governors in Kenya - 2020 Infotrak Report

From left: Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, Council of Governor chairman Wycliffe  Oparanya and Trans Nzoia governor Patrick Khaemba address the press in Nairobi on December 16, 2019.
From left: Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, Council of Governor chairman Wycliffe Oparanya and Trans Nzoia governor Patrick Khaemba address the press in Nairobi on December 16, 2019.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has been named the best performing governor in the latest rankings released by Infotrak on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. 

According to the survey which considered the governors’ performance in the period 2019/20, a majority of Kenyans say that devolution is working but 15% were disapproving of devolved units. 

Oparanya (82.3%) was followed by Kwale's Salim Mvurya at 77.1%, and  Makueni's Kibwana at 74.4 %.

President Uhuru Kenyatta when he met Rift Valley governors at State House Kenya
President Uhuru Kenyatta when he met Rift Valley governors at State House Kenya on March 9, 2020
PSCU

Kisumu’s Anyang’ Nyong’o came in at number 4 followed by Alfred Mutua (Machakos), John Longangapuo (West Pokot), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Muthomi Njuk (Tharaka Nithi), Josphat Nanok (Turkana), and Hillary Barchok of Bomet closed the top ten list. 

The research firm ranked governors based on key performance indicators regarding evolved functions such as health, education and agriculture.

Kivutha Kibwana’s Makueni county was ranked as the most improved having jumped from number 40 in the 2015 survey. 

Turkana and Kisumu were ranked 16 and 4 having improved from 42 and 27 respectively.

The biggest droppers were Taita Taveta which fell to number 36 from 9 in 2015, Samburu which was named 44 from 21 and Homa Bay which was ranked 39 from 18. 

Whereas Nandi County was ranked 13, Governor Stephen Sang’s approval ratings were ranked at 19.

The researchers explained that in some counties the service delivery was more satisfactory than the popularity of the area governors.

In other counties such as Mombasa, the people ranked the governor’s approval higher than service delivery. 

“You’ll find that some times the leaders are loved for engaging with their constituents or either by influence by the media and in some cases, the governor does not resonate with the populace even if the service delivery is satisfactory,” the company explained. 

For a long time, Kenyan politics has been based on personalities as opposed to performance or ideas. 

A list of best-performing governors in Kenya compiled by Infotrak
A list of best-performing governors in Kenya compiled by Infotrak
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A list of the best performing governors from a survey by Infotrak
A list of the best performing governors from a survey by Infotrak
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