Sakaja Misses Out as Kang’ata and Wamatangi Named Among Kenya’s Best-Performing Governors

Nairobi Governor Sakaja meets leadership from national and county road agencies, engineers and the Nairobi River Commission at City Hall to review progress of ongoing Nairobi Rising projects on roads, housing, lighting and river rehabilitation on May 5, 2026. PHOTO/ Johnson Sakaja

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has missed out on the latest list of Kenya’s top-performing county chiefs, as Murang’a’s Irungu Kang’ata and Kiambu’s Kimani Wamatangi lead the rankings in a new performance index.

The CountyTrak Performance Index 2026 released by Infotrak Research ranks Murang’a County first with a score of 54 percent, followed by Kiambu at 52 percent.

Trans Nzoia takes third place with 50 percent, highlighting strong service delivery and governance in the leading counties.

Top Counties Show Tight Competition Leaving Out Sakaja

At the same time, the report reveals stiff competition among counties as Elgeyo Marakwet, Homa Bay, Kisii, and Uasin Gishu share 49 percent, while Makueni and Tharaka Nithi follow closely at 48 percent.

Kericho, Kisumu, and Nyeri each scored 47 percent.

In addition, Embu and Kirinyaga post 46 percent alongside Kwale, Nandi, Taita Taveta, and West Pokot.

Bungoma, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Samburu each record 45 percent, while Lamu, Machakos, Migori, Nakuru, and Narok close the top 25 bracket with 44 percent.

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Sakaja’s Absence Raises Service Delivery Concerns

However, Nairobi County does not appear among the top performers, placing Governor Sakaja outside the leading bracket.

This absence raises fresh concerns about service delivery challenges in the capital despite its strategic economic role.

Analysts note that the rankings capture public perception of governance, development projects, and overall efficiency in service delivery.

Also Read: Here are the 10 Worst-Performing Governors

Smaller Counties Outshine Urban Centers

Overall, the CountyTrak index measures performance using indicators such as healthcare, infrastructure, education and citizen satisfaction.

Notably, the 2026 results show smaller and mid-sized counties outperform major urban centers in delivering services.

Consequently, attention now shifts to underperforming regions as pressure mounts on governors to improve service delivery and restore public confidence.

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Nairobi’s Sakaja misses top governors list as Kang’ata leads CountyTrak 2026 rankings, with Murang’a and Kiambu emerging as best-performing counties.

A photo collage of Murang’a county governor Irungu Kang’ata and Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi in a past address. PHOTO/ Irungu Kang’ata X/ Kimani Wamatangi