Trans Nzoia has reclaimed the top spot in agricultural performance among Kenya’s 47 counties, while Embu emerged as the biggest mover after climbing 19 places in the latest CountyTrak Performance Index by Infotrak.
Trans Nzoia scored 60 per cent to take the top position, followed by Murang’a at 56 per cent and Kiambu at 55 per cent.
Uasin Gishu came fourth with 54 per cent, while Elgeyo Marakwet was fifth at 53 per cent.
Other counties in the top tier included Kericho, Tharaka Nithi and Homa Bay, which tied at 51 per cent.
Nandi and Bungoma followed at 50 per cent each.
The national mean score for agriculture was 44.4 per cent, an improvement from 43 per cent in 2024, but still below the 51 per cent recorded in 2023.
Agriculture was ranked the fourth-best performing devolved function after education, environment and natural resources, and energy.
The index assessed residents’ perceptions of county governments’ performance in making it easier for farmers to grow and sell crops, rear and sell livestock or fish, access affordable food and manage livestock diseases and disposal of dead animals.
Trans Nzoia reclaimed the agriculture crown after its score dropped from 62 per cent in 2023 to 51 per cent in 2024.
The county’s latest score represents a nine-point rebound and places it 16 points above the national mean.
The report says Trans Nzoia “reclaims the top spot”, while noting that its latest performance was one of the strongest function scores recorded in the index.
Kiambu was identified as the fastest riser among the leading counties, moving from position 27 in 2023 to third in 2026. Its score rose by nine points from 46 per cent in 2024 to 55 per cent.
The biggest movement, however, came from Embu.
Embu climbed 19 places, from position 32 in 2024 to 13th in 2026. It was followed by Nandi, which rose 17 places from 26th to ninth.
Kericho made a 13-place jump from 19th to sixth, while Garissa climbed 11 places from 44th to 33rd.
Siaya also improved significantly, moving from 47th to 37th.
The report says Embu “makes the biggest leap”, describing its 19-place rise as “the largest gain under this function”.
The findings were drawn from a survey conducted between January and May 2026 covering all 47 counties, 290 constituencies and 1,450 wards, with an overall sample of 36,200 respondents.
Infotrak said the CountyTrak Index provides “robust statistics by ward on the perception of county residents” regarding county governments’ performance of devolved functions.
Residents rated each indicator on a scale of one to 10, with the scores used to calculate county performance across the various functions.
