Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has been ranked the best-performing member of President William Ruto’s Cabinet in a new Ipsos survey, a result that places him ahead of several high-profile colleagues as public scrutiny of government performance continues to intensify.
The nationwide poll gave Kagwe an approval rating of 86 per cent, the highest among Cabinet Secretaries assessed on leadership, service delivery, accountability and implementation of government policies.
The findings offer a snapshot of how Kenyans view the officials tasked with turning government promises into tangible results. They also come at a politically sensitive moment, with the country steadily moving towards the 2027 General Election.
Kagwe, who heads the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, has been at the centre of efforts to boost food production and support farmers amid economic pressures and changing weather patterns. Recent reforms in the agricultural sector, including measures targeting tea, coffee and grain production, have helped raise his public profile.
Behind Kagwe in the rankings was Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, who received an approval rating of 82 per cent. Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku followed with 79 per cent, while ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo secured 76 per cent. Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya rounded out the top five with 72 per cent.
Others appearing in the top ten included Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
According to Ipsos, the survey was designed to gauge public perceptions of senior government officials and their effectiveness in delivering services and implementing national development programmes. The research firm noted that Cabinet Secretaries are increasingly judged not only by policy announcements but by visible outcomes that directly affect citizens’ lives.
“The performance of Cabinet Secretaries plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of government service delivery and the successful implementation of national development programmes,” Ipsos said in its report.
The poll covered all 47 counties and included both urban and rural respondents. A total of 3,251 registered voters aged 18 and above participated in the survey.
While opinion polls provide a useful measure of public sentiment, analysts often caution that such surveys reflect perceptions at a particular moment rather than a definitive assessment of long-term performance. Public opinion can shift quickly, particularly in response to economic conditions, government policies and emerging political issues.
For now, however, the Ipsos findings suggest that Kagwe enjoys a level of public confidence unmatched by his Cabinet colleagues, placing him at the top of one of the most closely watched rankings in Kenya’s political landscape.
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