Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has been ranked 12th nationally in the newly released Politrack Africa County Governance Index 2025, scoring 55.0%.
Lenku’s administration has been lauded for effectively navigating complex issues unique to the county, particularly challenges related to land management, the pastoralist economy, and high-speed urbanization arising from its proximity to Nairobi.
The Index, which assessed all 47 county governments on metrics like service delivery, financial management, public participation, and citizen satisfaction, placed Governor Lenku firmly within the top tier of performing county bosses.
According to the detailed findings, Kajiado’s performance was backed by key achievements across six areas. These included significant progress in Land Planning and Settlement, involving the development of County Spatial Plans and the issuance of title deeds to group ranches. Furthermore, the county made substantial investments in Water for All Initiative by drilling boreholes and constructing mega-water pans, extending pipeline services to arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) communities.
ALSO READ:
Juvenile Gangs Leave Five Dead in Two Months as Kitengela Faces Crime Wave
Achievements in Economic Diversification saw support for the formalization and regulation of the mining sector (such as gemstones) and improved market facilities in towns like Kitengela and Kajiado.
Lenku was also recognized for efforts in Climate-Smart Livestock Farming and increasing investment in Education and ECDE Support, alongside improved staff morale through resolving long-standing issues related to promotions and remittances.
Nationally, the top position was shared by two first-term governors: Simba Arati (Kisii) and Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega), who both tied with a score of 65 per cent, with Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu of Narok County securing the 4th position with a score of 62.5 per cent.
Elsewhere, Governor Johnson Sakaja of Nairobi County ranked 16th, scoring 52.4 per cent,
The Politrack Africa study was comprehensive, drawing data from a nationwide survey of more than 13,000 respondents and reinforced by expenditure data provided by the Office of the Controller of Budget.
The assessment measured performance across four key areas: service delivery, fiscal stewardship, governance practices, and economic development. Researchers consistently found that high scores correlated with counties that demonstrated improvements in essential services such as roads, hospitals, water supply, and agricultural support.
By Masaki Enock
