Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi and his Interior and National Administration counterpart Raymond Omollo were ranked best performers in the 2025 Principal Secretaries Performance Evaluation.
In the polls released on Friday by Politrack Africa, PSs Mwangi and Omollo were placed as top performers scoring 69.7 percent. The two were recognized for their oversight of high-impact national programmes, progress in digitization and achievement of performance contracting targets.
The new ranking reviewed the performance of all 51 Principal Secretaries across government ministries, using a comprehensive methodology anchored on project implementation, digital transformation, financial discipline, stakeholder engagement and public accountability.
PS Mwangiโs strong score also marked the beginning of a steady run for Mt Kenya PSs dominating the upper tier of the ranking.
Under stewardship of Mwangi, the Ministry of Sports has managed to spearhead construction of various stadiums across the country as well as improvement of other sporting infrastructure.
The government, through the State Department for Sports, within the last six months constructed and completed Homabay Stadium which was used to host Madaraka Day celebrations. The stadium was constructed in a record of five months.
Mwangiโs leadership at the helm of the sports department was also recognized for overseeing construction of Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County, a project that took four months. The stadium hosted this yearโs Mashujaa Day.
Other programmes that made the Sports PS to be ranked best include rehabilitation of Moi International Sports Centre which hosted CHAN24 games this year.
The department also oversaw rehabilitation of various stadiums including Nyayo National Stadium, Police Sacco grounds in South B, Ulinzi Sports Complex and Kasarani Annex A and B grounds.
Mwangi also scored high for his leadership in enabling bidding and negotiations for Kenya to host international competitions.
Apart from CHAN24, other competitions that have been held in the country include Kenya Magical Open, African Para volley championship, World Taekwondo Championship, African Rafting Championship, East African Classic Safari rally and African Cycling Championship among others.
The State Department for Sports under the leadership of Mwangi also earned recognition for championing talents nurturing and development through initiation of sports facilities across the country.
Currently, construction of 37 sport academies and 18 community grounds is in progress as the department has also registered over 30 federations and issued them with certificates.
According to the poll, second place went to PS Esther Mworia of the State Department for TVET with a score of 67.2 percent who was celebrated for reforms that have expanded access to technical training and improved enrollment and infrastructure.
Housing and Urban Development PS Charles Hinga and Public Service and Human Development PS Jane Kere followed closely, securing third and fifth positions with scores of 65.5 percent and 62.8 percent respectively.
PS Hinga was cited for progress under the Affordable Housing agenda while PS Kere earned praise for strengthening HR systems across the public sector.
Roads PS Joseph Mungai ranked sixth owing to notable achievements in road construction, maintenance and contractor management.
In eighth position was Energy PS Alex Wachira with 59.2 percent, recognized for efforts to expand electricity access and enhance grid reliability.
Closing the top ten was Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni who scored 57.1 percent after her department received the SDG Award 2025 for integrating SDG indicators in malaria, TB, nutrition and preventive health programmes.
by Bernard Munyao & Purity Mugo
