Mixed reaction over counties ranking poll

Machakos County Governor Dr Alfred Mutua addresses a press conference outside his office on April 29,2015 after the county was ranked as best performing countrywide in a survey by Infotrack. PHOTO |COURTESY | MACHAKOS COUNTY. 

In Summary

• He thanked the people of Machakos, his team and the County Assembly for supporting him to develop the county.
• He said Kakamega is an expansive county and has many challenges.

By NATION TEAM
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A poll that ranked governors on perceptions of service delivery was met with mixed reaction by leaders across the country.

Machakos County Governor Dr Alfred Mutua, who was ranked as best performing in the survey conducted by Infotrack and published by the Nation, was elated and thanked his staff and residents for the success.

“I thank the government team especially the people whom we have been working together. This is our victory. This is not a one man show but a collective effort,” said Dr Mutua.

“This victory will re-energise us. We are going to work even harder. The real work has just began,” said Governor Mutua.

The survey ranked leaders based on roads, hospitals, agriculture and helped farmers to transport goods to market, schools and village polytechnics they built or rehabilitated.

CORRUPT

Some leaders in Kwale County faulted the survey after Governor Salim Mvurya was ranked fifth.

The Members of the County Assembly Anthony Yama (Kasemeni), Ndoro Mweruphe (Mkongani), James Dawa (Puma) and Kassim Pojjo (Mwereni) said the Governor has initiated projects that should have seen him rated as a top performer.

Mr Yama said Mr Mvurya, who is also the Council of Governors vice chairman, has not been named in any corrupt case.

Taita-Taveta Governor John Mruttu said the survey is a motivation for him to work hard to change the lives of residents.

Mr Mruttu, who was ranked seventh nationally, said he was not content with the position and wants to perform better.

“I am very impressed with the ranking. It is an acknowledgement of our efforts to transform the lives of our people because they elected us to do so,” the Governor said.

“We want to improve. We are currently discussing on how to implement the County Integrated Development Master Plan to deliver a wholesome growth by 2020, way ahead of the nation’s Vision 2030,” Mr Mruttu said.

Governors from Kakamega and Vihiga counties, which were ranked among the 15 best performing counties, said the survey vindicated their hard work.

Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga, who was ranked third behind his Machakos and Bungoma counterparts, said the performance in the county’s health sector denied him the top spot.

Addressing the public who thronged at the county headquarters in Mbale, Mr Akaranga said the report is a reflection of development initiatives launched by his office.

SERVICE DELIVERY

“These people (Infotrak) who did the survey saw what we have done in the county in the last two years and rated us at position three,” said Mr Akaranga.

In Kakamega, Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said he was happy with the poll, which ranked his county the tenth best performing county.

He said Kakamega was an expansive county and had many challenges.

“We are struggling to improve service delivery to 12 constituencies and in the next two years we hope to perform even better,” said Mr Oparanya when he addressed the press in his office Wednesday.

Three out of the four counties from the former Western province made it to the top 10.

Bungoma was ranked number two, Vihiga was in position three while Kakamega was number 10.

Tana River county government faulted the report saying the research methods used were not clear.

The County’s Director of information, Mr Galgalo Fayo said the report had only mentioned fifteen counties out of the 47.

“Tana River is not mentioned in the list despite the fact that it’s a county within the country, so we don’t understand where we fall and what sampling methods they used to come up with their report,’ said Mr Fayo.