By MKT Reporter
Leaders from the Mt Kenya region have emerged among the top performers in the latest Devolution Scorecard 2026, even as the report highlights growing public dissatisfaction with county governments across the country.
According to the survey by Timely Kenya, Kisii Governor Simba Arati leads nationally with an approval rating of 81 per cent, making him the best-performing governor in the country. He is followed by Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi at 75.1 per cent, and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamed at 69.4 per cent.
Others in the top 10 include Stephen Sang (Nandi) at 69 per cent, Isaac Mutuma (Meru) at 67.4 per cent, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata at 65.6 per cent, Fatuma Achani (Kwale) at 65 per cent, Lati Lelelit (Samburu) at 63.9 per cent, George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia) at 58.9 per cent, and Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu) at 55.8 per cent.
Within the Mt Kenya region, Wamatangi and Kang’ata stand out not only in overall national rankings but also in sectoral performance indicators.
Wamatangi is ranked highly in education and water accessibility, and also performs strongly in healthcare and infrastructure delivery. Kang’ata features prominently in agriculture, education, and water service delivery.
The report, however, paints a mixed picture of devolution nationwide, revealing that only 44 per cent of Kenyans believe the system is working, while 56 per cent feel it is not delivering effectively.
It notes that although devolution has brought services closer to citizens and improved local economies, persistent wastage of public resources and lack of accountability continue to undermine its full potential.
The findings further indicate a growing disconnect between governors and citizens, with only three out of every 10 respondents reporting having seen or interacted with their governor in the past year.
Corruption and pending bills are identified as the biggest challenges facing county governments, continuing to strain service delivery and erode public trust.
Despite strong performances by some governors, voter confidence appears to be declining, with only 40 per cent of respondents saying they would re-elect their current governors ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Nonetheless, the report maintains that devolution remains a viable governance model if key challenges are addressed, including stronger oversight, improved transparency, and enhanced citizen engagement.
“There remains a strong belief… that devolution can succeed if proper measures are implemented, including stronger oversight, transparency, and citizen engagement,” the report states.
In the sectoral breakdown, Agriculture top performers include Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a), Isaac Mutuma (Meru), Simba Arati (Kisii), Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu), and Stephen Sang (Nandi).
In Education, the leading counties are Kiambu, Wajir, Kisii, Trans Nzoia, and Murang’a.
For Roads and Infrastructure, top counties are Kisii, Kiambu, Machakos, Nandi, and Kwale.
In Healthcare, leading counties include Kiambu, Meru, Kisii, Kisumu, and Wajir.
Water accessibility is led by Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu), Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), Kisii County, and Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a).
The report concludes that while Mt Kenya counties Kiambu and Murang’a consistently appear among top performers across sectors, alongside Kisii and other counties, overall citizen expectations remain high as the country approaches the 2027 General Election.
It adds that strong individual leadership in counties such as Kiambu, Kisii, and Murang’a demonstrates that administrative performance is increasingly being measured beyond overall rankings, with sector-specific delivery becoming a key indicator of governance success.
Felix Njenga 
Bernard Munyao