A new ranking of county governments has once again put governors under the spotlight, with the Parliamentary Budget Office assessing how devolved units are managing public funds, development priorities, audits and pending bills.
The Daily Nation’s August 7 edition reports that the scorecard, based on the County Fiscal Performance Measurement Index, shows wide gaps in performance across the country, with a handful of counties posting strong marks while others remain stuck at the bottom.
According to the publication, most counties are performing only moderately, even as a few record what analysts describe as very good results.
Embu emerged as one of the strongest performers, with Governor Cecily Mbarire topping the list.
She was followed closely by Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi. Also among the better-ranked counties were Kitui, led by Governor Julius Malombe, and Kilifi, under Governor Gideon Mung’aro.
The ranking suggests that counties which have maintained tighter control over spending, improved budget absorption and handled fiscal obligations more responsibly fared better in the assessment.
The scorecard also appears to reward counties that have shown stronger commitment to development spending and cleaner financial management.
At the other end of the scale, several governors were placed among the worst performers, a finding likely to trigger fresh debate over accountability in county administrations.
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o was listed among the lowest-ranked leaders, alongside Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma and Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja also featured near the bottom of the list.
Other counties that performed poorly included Bungoma, Kajiado, Lamu and Meru, underscoring the uneven pace of governance nearly 13 years after devolution was introduced.
The report is likely to intensify pressure on county leaders to demonstrate better use of billions of shillings allocated annually through the devolved system.
It also reinforces growing public concerns over pending bills, weak oversight and the quality of services delivered at the county level.