Kericho County’s recognition as Kenya’s Most Improved County in the 2026 InfoTrak CountyTrak Devolution Awards is strengthening its profile as an emerging destination for investment, enterprise and development partnerships.
The county climbed from 31st position in 2025 to 10th nationally in the latest County Performance Index, an independent assessment that measures citizens’ satisfaction with devolved services across Kenya’s 47 counties.
Governor Erick Mutai received the award during a ceremony in Nairobi, saying the recognition demonstrated that peace, stability and prudent leadership were helping accelerate development and improve services.
“This remarkable achievement is a clear affirmation that with a peaceful, stable and conflict-free environment, our development agenda continues to deliver tangible results for the people of Kericho,” Governor Mutai said.
He attributed the achievement to residents, county staff, the County Assembly, development partners and other stakeholders supporting the county’s development agenda.
The improved ranking comes at a time when Kericho is seeking to strengthen its economic base through better infrastructure, agricultural development, health services, water supply, markets and support for small enterprises.
Economic analysts say counties that consistently improve governance and public service delivery can become more attractive to investors because efficient institutions, reliable infrastructure and responsive services help reduce the cost of doing business and improve confidence.
The annual CountyTrak Performance Index, conducted by InfoTrak Research and Consulting, assesses citizens’ satisfaction with key devolved functions, including healthcare, agriculture, roads, water, trade, early childhood education, physical planning, environmental management, financial accountability and public participation.
The 2026 survey covered all 47 counties, 290 constituencies and 1,450 wards, with more than 36,000 respondents interviewed between January and May using a scientifically representative sampling methodology.
Kericho’s performance is particularly significant because the county is one of Kenya’s leading agricultural economies and the country’s largest tea-producing region.
Tea remains a major foreign exchange earner for Kenya, making improvements in infrastructure, governance and agricultural services important not only to the county but also to the national economy.
Recent county investments have focused on upgrading roads to improve access to agricultural markets, expanding healthcare infrastructure, strengthening water supply, modernising markets, supporting youth and women’s enterprises and improving Early Childhood Development Education facilities.
The projects are expected to enhance productivity, improve the movement of agricultural produce and create conditions for greater investment in agro-processing and value addition.
For an economy anchored on tea, dairy farming and horticulture, improved rural infrastructure could help producers access markets more efficiently while attracting investors seeking opportunities in processing, packaging and other agricultural value chains.
County officials have also continued collaborating with the National Government on programmes aligned with Kenya Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The national programme prioritises agricultural transformation, affordable housing, universal health coverage, support for micro, small and medium enterprises and the digital economy.
Such initiatives are intended to stimulate local production, create employment and raise household incomes while strengthening the competitiveness of county economies.
The CountyTrak findings also show the importance of education in supporting long-term economic growth. Education was the highest-rated devolved function nationally, with all counties achieving at least a “good” performance score.
Kericho recorded 54 per cent in education services, reflecting investments in ECDE centres, vocational training and bursary programmes. These interventions are expected to help develop the skilled workforce needed to support enterprise, innovation and productivity.
The county’s improved position is also likely to influence how development partners assess Kericho when considering where to direct resources and implement programmes.
Stronger public confidence in county institutions can support partnerships and facilitate implementation of development projects.
As Kenya enters the second decade of devolution, performance-based assessments such as the CountyTrak Index are increasingly important benchmarks for determining whether county governments are translating public resources into improved services and livelihoods.
For Kericho, the movement from 31st to 10th position, coupled with its recognition as the Most Improved County Overall, provides a positive indicator of progress in governance and service delivery.
By Gilbert Mutai
