By Eddah Waithaka
Murang’a, Nakuru, and Kiambu top the rankings in job creation, automation, and e-government services, according to a new report from the Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat.
The report, titled “Ranking of Counties by Service Delivery and Automation,” places Murang’a at the forefront with an impressive 98.3 per cent score. Nakuru follows at 87.3 per cent, with Kiambu (83.9 per cent), Kisumu (81.2 per cent), and Meru completing the top five.
Vision 2030 CEO Kenneth Mwige explained the assessment criteria during the launch in Nairobi.”The agency examined critical areas such as job creation what counties have done to stimulate employment the ease of accessing services online, and the safety and reliability of county revenue management systems,” Mwige said.
Murang’a’s Digital Revolution Drives Success
Murang’a claimed the top spot through ambitious automation initiatives that have doubled county revenue and digitized hospital services.
The county has rolled out smart systems including Inua Mkulima, which delivers quarterly subsidies to farmers directly via mobile phones. It also implemented online bursary applications that notify successful students electronically.
Speaking at the ranking event, Murang’a County Finance CEC Professor Kiarie Mwaura revealed that revenue has surged from under Sh500 million to more than Sh1.3 billion achieved purely through service automation without increasing any charges or levies.
“We have moved critical services online, including hospital care, permits, approvals, and agricultural services. We plan to integrate all these into a single application soon,” Prof. Kiarie said.
Creating Real Economic Opportunities
Murang’a demonstrates that automation alone does not guarantee prosperity it must couple with tangible economic opportunities. The county has leveraged administrative efficiency to drive direct job creation, particularly targeting the youth demographic.
By streamlining the procurement process, local enterprises now enjoy greater access to county contracts, stimulating a hyper-local economic multiplier effect.
The county has successfully fused its rich agricultural heritage with modern technology through agri-tech integration, optimizing supply chains for tea and coffee farmers while creating tech-adjacent roles in the agricultural sector.
A fully digitized bursary allocation system ensures educational funding reaches the most deserving students without political interference, securing the county’s future human capital.
Investments in local ICT infrastructure have provided a foundation for rural business process outsourcing (BPO) and freelance digital work, proving that the “Silicon Savannah” does not need to remain confined to Nairobi’s borders.
High-speed internet and supportive local policies can turn rural counties into viable hubs for the modern digital economy.
Performance Disparities Across Counties
The report reveals significant disparities in county performance nationwide.Seven counties (14.9 per cent) scored between 80 per cent and 100 per cent.
Seventeen counties (36.2 per cent) scored between 60 per cent and 79 per cent, while another 17 counties (36.2 per cent) scored between 40 per cent and 59 per cent.
Six counties (4.3 per cent) scored below 40 per cent, highlighting the gap between leading and lagging regions.
The magnitude of Murang’a’s achievement becomes clearer when viewed against other regions. While neighboring counties like Kiambu and Nakuru boast significant industrial and real estate advantages, Murang’a has outpaced them through sheer administrative agility and a refusal to tolerate systemic friction.
The report highlights progress counties have made in digitizing services, improving revenue management systems, leveraging data and innovation, and implementing employment creation initiatives, while also identifying gaps and areas for improvement.
Principal Secretaries, County Executives, and representatives from the Council of Governors attended the ranking event, underscoring the importance of service delivery and automation in Kenya’s devolution journey.
