A new opinion poll has laid bare growing public dissatisfaction with Kenya’s devolved system, even as it highlights pockets of strong performance among county leaders.
According to the 2026 Devolution Scorecard by Timely Kenya, only 44 per cent of Kenyans feel devolution is working, while a majority—56 per cent—believe little to nothing is functioning as expected.
The report paints a picture of a system delivering mixed results: while services have moved closer to the people and local economies have improved, deep-rooted challenges continue to undermine progress.
“While devolution has brought services closer to the people and improved local economies, persistent wastage of public resources and lack of accountability continue to undermine its full potential,” the report states.
FIRST-TERM GOVERNORS OUTSHINE SECOND-TERM PEERS
The survey found that first-term governors are generally outperforming their second-term counterparts, signaling what analysts interpret as either reform momentum among new leaders or complacency among incumbents.
However, accessibility remains a major concern, with a significant disconnect between county bosses and citizens.
“Only 3 out of every 10 respondents reported having seen or interacted with their governor in the past one year,” the report notes, pointing to limited public engagement.
CORRUPTION, PENDING BILLS TOP CHALLENGES
Corruption and the accumulation of pending bills emerged as the biggest obstacles facing counties, directly affecting service delivery and eroding public trust.
“These issues continue to strain service delivery and erode public confidence in county leadership,” the statement adds.
TOP PERFORMERS AND STRUGGLING COUNTIES
In the rankings, Kisii Governor Simba Arati topped the list with an 81 per cent approval rating, followed by Kiambu’s Kimani Wamatangi and Wajir’s Ahmed Abdullahi.
Other top performers include Nandi’s Stephen Sang, Meru’s Isaac Mutuma and Murang’a’s Irungu Kang’ata.
On the flip side, counties such as Isiolo, Kajiado, Lamu, Marsabit, Turkana, Laikipia, Siaya, Nyamira, Mandera and Tana River were flagged for minimal development.
Sector-wise, Kiambu, Meru and Kisii stood out in healthcare, while infrastructure and agriculture performance varied across counties.
VOTERS LOSE CONFIDENCE AHEAD OF 2027
The findings also signal political trouble for incumbents ahead of the next General Election, with only 40 per cent of respondents expressing willingness to re-elect their governors.
“This reflects growing public dissatisfaction and a demand for improved accountability and service delivery,” the report notes.
Despite the concerns, Kenyans have not lost faith entirely in devolution.
“There remains a strong belief… that devolution can succeed if proper measures are implemented, including stronger oversight, transparency, and citizen engagement.”
With just over a year to the next election cycle, the scorecard sends a clear message to county leaders: deliver tangible results or risk voter backlash, as citizens demand accountability from a system they still believe can work.
Across the categories, Kiambu and Kisii consistently appear, signaling strong cross-sector performance, while leaders like Wamatangi, Arati, and Kang’ata dominate multiple sectors a key indicator of administrative strength beyond overall rankings.
AGRICULTURE (TOP PERFORMERS)
- Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a)
- Isaac Mutuma (Meru)
- Simba Arati (Kisii)
- Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu)
- Stephen Sang (Nandi)
EDUCATION (TOP PERFORMERS)
- Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu)
- Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir)
- Simba Arati (Kisii)
- George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia)
- Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a)
ROADS / INFRASTRUCTURE (TOP COUNTIES)
- Kisii
- Kiambu
- Machakos
- Nandi
- Kwale
HEALTHCARE (TOP COUNTIES)
- Kiambu
- Meru
- Kisii
- Kisumu
- Wajir
WATER ACCESSIBILITY (TOP PERFORMERS)
- Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu)
- Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu)
- Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri)
- Sima Arati (Kisii )
- Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a)
