Nairobi, Kenya (IP)
The latest Kenya Track Survey has placed Geoffrey Ruku and Rebecca Miano at the top of the Cabinet Secretary rankings.
Deborah Mulongo (Environment) and Aden Duale (Health) stood out for different reasons.
Mulongo for a clean, reform-driven profile and Duale for controversial yet impactful leadership.
The month-long survey, conducted between August 1 and 30, 2025, sampled 7,856 respondents across all 47 counties. It ranked CSs on leadership, service delivery and policy reforms.
Mulongo: Quiet Environmental Reforms
As Environment CS, Deborah Mulongo has steadily gained recognition for reforms targeting sustainable land use, conservation and climate resilience.
She has prioritized county-led afforestation drives, stricter enforcement against illegal logging and policies to expand renewable energy adoption.
Her approval reflects a “results over drama” approach in a ministry that has often been overshadowed by bigger political dockets.
Against Her Predecessor (Soipan Tuya)
Mulongo succeeded Soipan Tuya, who served from 2022.
Tuya’s record was defined by high-profile international engagements, including representing Kenya at COP27 but her 15 billion tree pledge struggled with financing and weak follow-through.
Tuya’s focus: International climate diplomacy.
Mulongo’s pivot: Domestic execution through county governments and measurable outcomes in tree planting, water security and sustainable farming.
This shift toward grassroots implementation explains why Mulongo has earned stronger approval, reflected in her 5th-place ranking in the 2025 survey.
Duale: Controversy and Reform in Health
Ranked 9th, Health CS Aden Duale embodies resilience. Once criticized for being shuffled across Defence, Environment and now Health, he has turned skepticism into cautious approval.
His decisive reforms include:
Rejecting KSh 10.6 billion in fraudulent claims under the Social Health Insurance Fund.
Ordering hospital reinspections after illegal organ-harvesting scandals.
Suspending the Nursing Council CEO over irregular internship placements.
These bold actions, though unpopular among some professionals, signal a willingness to confront entrenched problems.
Against former his for health Susan Nakhumicha Duale took over from Susan Nakhumicha who struggled under pressure from medical unions and the 2024 doctors’ strike.
Nakhumicha’s challenges: A health sector paralyzed by strikes, delayed salary payments for medics and disputes over the implementation of the new health insurance model.
Duale’s pivot: Aggressive fraud clampdowns, system-wide audits and visible oversight actions that reassured the public of accountability.
Where Nakhumicha appeared overwhelmed by union resistance, Duale has projected toughness—earning him grudging respect and a place in the top 10 CSs despite ongoing controversy.
Kenya Track Survey 2025: Top 10 Performing CSs
Geoffrey Ruku – Public Service & Human Capital Development
Rebecca Miano – Tourism & Wildlife
William Kabogo – ICT
Kipchumba Murkomen – Interior & National Administration
Deborah Mulongo – Environment
Eric Muuga – Water, Sanitation & Irrigation
Salim Mvurya – Youth Affairs, Creative Economy & Sports
Hassan Joho – Mining, Blue Economy & Maritime Affairs
Aden Duale – Health
Mutahi Kagwe – Agriculture & Livestock Development
Verdict: Two Paths, Same Recognition
Mulongo vs. Tuya: Mulongo’s clean, practical reforms have delivered what Tuya’s diplomacy could not—local impact.
Duale vs. Nakhumicha: Duale’s combative reform style has succeeded where Nakhumicha faltered, restoring public confidence in a fragile docket.
The survey underscores a key lesson: Kenyans reward both quiet implementers and bold reformers, so long as they deliver visible results.
