Top performing governors in Kenya: Were they to be given prizes, Kakamega County boss and COG chair would take home the top prize as the best performing governor according to a report by Consortium of Researchers on Governance released last month.

The study involving all the 47 counties give Oparanya 87% followed by Kirinyanga County’s Anne Waiguru with 84 % and Makueni’s Kivutha Kibwana with %.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko took position 15, with a score of 65 percent, while Kiambu’s Ferdinand Waititu was 43rd in the ranking, with 36 percent.

At the bottom of the list were Nyeri’s Mutahi Kahiga (34 percent), Siaya’s Cornel Rasanga (33 percent) and Samburu’s Moses Kasaine (32 percent).

SEE MORE: Poorest to Richest Counties in Kenya (Updated 2019)

During the presentation of the report in Nairobi, the researchers’ team leader, Charles Mc’Olonde, said areas in which performance was tested included delivery of devolved government services such as healthcare.

The study also focused on the County Integrated Development Plan (CIPD), budgeting and public participation and the governors’ job approval ratings.

The research revealed that not all citizens knew the difference between national and devolved services and that some governors’ job approval ratings were irrational and based on national politics rather than performance.

Mr Mc’Olonde also noted that in some regions, recent events such as the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, the nurses’ strike, the Council of Governors’ election and the Supreme Court rulings on disputed elections, determined how citizens rated their governors.

According to the study, the most popular governors, such as Mombasa’s Hassan Joho who was ranked 30th with 51 percent, performed well in terms of job approval ratings but had low scores in devolved functions.

THE RESEARCH

The country was divided into 10 regions and Kenyans older than 18 years interviewed.

According to Mr Mc’Olonde, an initial target of 10,000 respondents was set but 8,014 people were contacted and in the end 6,891 interviewed.

Data was collected through face to face interviews and questionnaires, with more women (48 per cent) than men taking part.

Below is the full list of all the top performing governors in Kenya:

. Kakamega- Wycliffe Oparanya 88.7%
2. Makueni- Kivutha Kibwana 86.4%
3. Kwale- Salim Mvurya 84.3%
4. Machakos- Alfred Mutua 77.6
5. Kitui- Charity Ngilu 76.7%
6. Kirinyaga- Anne Waiguru 74.8
7. Nyandarua – Francis Kimemia 72.2%
8. Laikipia- Ndiritu Muriithi 71.2%
9. Meru- Kiraitu Murungi 70.7%
10. Turkana- Josephat Nanok 69.4.4%
11. Vihiga- Wilbur Ottichilo 68.8
12. Kisumu- Prof Peter Anyang Nyong’o 67.7
13. Narok- Samuel Tunai 66.0%
14. West Pokot – John Lonyangapuo 66.4%
15. Muranga- Mwangi wa Iria 64.1%
16. Migori – Zacharia Obado 61.7%
17. Kisii – James Ongwae 59.4%
18. Bungoma – Wycliffe Wangamati 58.8%
19. Elgeyo Marakwet – Alex Tolgos 57.9%
20. Mandera – Ali Ibrahim Roba 56.4%
21. Nakuru- Lee Kinyajui 55.7%
22. Nairobi – Mike Sonko 54.5%
23. Mombasa- Ali Hassan Joho 54.0%
24. Kericho – Paul Chepkwony 53.4%
25. Tharaka Nithi – Onesmus Njuki 52.5%
26. Kiambu – Ferdinand Waititu 51.2%
27. Kajiado – Joseph Ole Lenku 50.4%
28. Uasin Gishu- Jackson Mandago 49.9%
29. TransNzoia – Patrick Khaemba 48.1%
30. Kilifi – Amason Kingi 47.7%
31. Marsabit- Mohamud Mohamed Ali 46.7%
32. Isiolo – Mohammed Abdi Kuti 45.2%
33. Nandi- Stephen Sang 44.7%
34. Busia- Sospeter Ojaamong 44.2%
35. Bomet- Joyce Laboso 43.6%
36. Tana River – Dhadho Godhana 42.9%
37. Baringo- Stanley Kiptis 41.1%
38. Samburu – Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal 40.7%
39. Lamu – Fahim Twaha 39.1%
40. Embu – Martin Wambora 38.5%
41. Nyamira- John Nyagarama 38.2%
42. Garissa – Bunow Ali Korane 37.8%
43. Taita Taveta- Granton Samboja 36.6%
44. Siaya – Cornel Rasanga 35.3%
45. Nyeri – Mutahi Kahiga 34.5%
46. Wajir – Mohamed Abdi 32.6%
47. Homabay – Cyprian Awiti 33.1%