NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 11 – Kirinyaga County has recorded strong performance in the delivery of devolved functions, despite an overall decline in county service delivery across the country, from 49 per cent in 2023 to 43 per cent in 2024.
An Infotrak survey, which sampled 36,200 respondents nationwide—including 1,500 in Kirinyaga—placed the Governor Anne Waiguru-led devolved unit in third place with an approval rating of 48 per cent, behind Murang’a (52 per cent) and Homa Bay (51 per cent).
Kirinyaga tied with Trans Nzoia, while Nyeri, Kisii, and Kisumu shared fourth place, each with a performance rating of 47 per cent.
The index, published on Tuesday, showed Kirinyaga a percentage point below the nationwide average performance in 2023, which has since declined to 43 per cent.
The survey, conducted between October and December 2024, assessed twelve core devolved functions, including health, agriculture, education, energy, water, roads and transport, environment, trade and tourism, housing, planning, and development.
Kirinyaga performed well across nearly all sectors, ranking third in health, trade and tourism, roads and transport, water and sanitation, social services, and planning.
The Waiguru-led government also ranked among the top ten in agriculture, education, sports and culture, lands and settlements, and housing.
Commenting on Infotrak’s assessment, Governor Waiguru said the rankings reflect her administration’s commitment to improving education, infrastructure, healthcare, water access, and overall community empowerment.
“We have worked consistently, and you can see the numbers have been improving. I want to thank my team for their effort—numbers don’t lie, and the residents of Kirinyaga appreciate the work we have been doing,” Waiguru said.
She acknowledged the challenges counties face, including inadequate resources, but urged fellow governors to continue prioritizing development.
The CountyTrak Index 2024 also revealed that 73 percent of Kirinyaga residents believe the county has improved since the introduction of devolution in 2013.
Additionally, 63 percent felt that the current county government, under Governor Waiguru, is performing better than the previous administration.
Waiguru emphasized that her administration has focused on key development pillars that have significantly improved the livelihoods of Kirinyaga residents.
In the agriculture sector, she credited the Wezesha Kirinyaga program for empowering farmers through initiatives in tomato, fish, avocado, and beekeeping value chains, which have boosted agricultural productivity and market access.
She also highlighted investments in healthcare, including the expansion of Kerugoya County Referral Hospital and the construction of 20 dispensaries and maternity wards, ensuring better medical services for residents.
Additionally, the county has enhanced access to quality and affordable healthcare by equipping facilities with modern resources and increasing the healthcare workforce.
