A recent survey by research firm Infotrak has ranked Murang’a, Homa Bay, and Kirinyaga among Kenya’s best-performing counties, highlighting strides made in key devolved functions.

According to the CountyTrak Index 2024 report, Murang’a topped the list with a 52 per cent performance rating, followed by Homa Bay at 51 per cent.

Kirinyaga and Trans Nzoia secured joint third place with 48 per cent, while Nyeri, Kisii, and Kisumu followed closely at 47 per cent.

The survey, conducted between October and December 2024, polled 36,200 respondents across all counties, evaluating performance in 12 critical sectors, including health, agriculture, education, roads, water, environment, trade, tourism, and housing.

Kirinyaga stood out for its broad success, ranking third in healthcare, trade and tourism, roads, water, social services, and planning.

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The county also secured top ten positions in agriculture, education, sports, culture, lands, and housing.

Governor Anne Waiguru credited the ranking to her administration’s focus on development, particularly in education, infrastructure, healthcare, and water access.

“We have worked consistently and you can see the numbers have been improving and I want to thank my team for the effort that they have put, numbers don’t lie and residents of Kirinyaga appreciates the work we have been doing,” Waiguru said.

Despite acknowledging the financial challenges counties face, she urged fellow governors to continue prioritising development to improve service delivery.

The report further revealed that 73 per cent of Kirinyaga residents believe the county has improved since devolution began in 2013, with 63 per cent stating that Waiguru’s administration has outperformed the previous leadership.

In agriculture, Waiguru pointed to the Wezesha Kirinyaga programme, which has strengthened tomato, fish, avocado, and beekeeping value chains, boosting productivity and market access.

On healthcare, she highlighted key investments such as the expansion of Kerugoya County Referral Hospital, the construction of 20 dispensaries and maternity wards, and an increase in medical personnel to enhance access to quality and affordable healthcare.