Governors across Kenya are facing renewed scrutiny after a fresh performance ranking revealed sharp disparities in how counties are managing public resources and delivering services.
The latest assessment by the Parliamentary Budget Office evaluated county governments using the County Fiscal Performance Measurement Index, focusing on key indicators such as development spending, audit outcomes and pending bills.
The findings point to a mixed performance landscape, with only a handful of counties standing out as efficient and financially disciplined.
At the top tier, Embu, Narok and Wajir counties emerged as strong performers, reflecting relatively better control of public finances and improved absorption of development budgets.
Kitui and Kilifi also featured among counties that scored above average, suggesting consistent efforts in fiscal management and service delivery.
Analysts say counties that ranked highly tend to demonstrate stronger adherence to budgetary frameworks, timely settlement of obligations and better prioritisation of development projects.
These factors have increasingly become central in evaluating the effectiveness of devolved units more than a decade after the introduction of devolution.
However, the report paints a concerning picture for several counties placed at the bottom of the index.
Major counties, including Nairobi and Kisumu, were ranked among the poorest performers, raising fresh questions about financial oversight and governance in high-budget regions.
Others in the lower tier include Kakamega, Busia, Baringo and Kajiado.
The poor rankings are largely linked to rising pending bills, weak audit compliance and slow implementation of development projects.
Experts warn that such trends could undermine public trust and slow down socio-economic progress at the grassroots level.
The latest scorecard is expected to intensify pressure on governors to tighten accountability mechanisms and improve service delivery.
It also provides a benchmark that could influence future budget allocations and policy decisions at both the national and county levels.
As counties continue to control a significant share of public funds, the ranking underscores the growing demand for transparency and measurable results in devolved governance.