By KPC
Former journalist Nyambega Gisesa has been ranked as the best performing Member of County Assembly (MCA) in Kenya with Embu County Assembly Speaker Josiah Thiriku picked as the County Speaker of the Year 2024.
Gisesa, a one time Annual Journalism Excellence Award (AJEA) winner represents Rigoma Ward at the County Assembly of Nyamira.
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MCAs Laban Chomba (Kambiti ward, Murang’a) and Kiruga Thuku (Chinga ward, Nyeri) emerged second and third respectively in the ranking.
Baringo County Assembly Speaker Vincent Kemboi and his Kirinyaga counterpart Julius Murimi were ranked number two and three respectively in the speakers category.
Gisesa beat 1,450 elected and 772 nominated MCAs in the coveted Starleaders Awards 2024.
The evaluation and ranking was done by research and opinion firm, Politrack Africa Ltd.
“Its an honour to win this award. I dedicate it to all MCAs serving in every corner of the country working hard towards making devolution a success,” Gisesa.
He received the award during a colourful ceremony held at JW Marriot hotel over the weekend.
The Starleaders Awards recognise county leadership from best performing county assemblies, County Speakers, County Secretaries, MCAs, Chief Executive Committee Members (CECM’s) and Chief Officers (CO).
“Their hard work is thoroughly evaluated through public opinion research highlighting remarkable achievements in governance, policy innovation and sectoral development,” said John Benson, Politrack Africa Ltd CEO.
Other MCAs in the top 10 list were Abdirashid Adan (Burder ward, Wajir), Morris Thuku (Kiru ward, Murang’a), Ahmed Sheikh (Liboi ward, Garissa), Grace Wairimu (Kanyenyaini ward, Murang’a), Yusuf Bile (Chewele ward, Tana River), Nicholas Bitok (Tapsagoi Ward, Uasin Gishu) and Naom Nyambura( Ruchu ward, Murang’a).
David Leting (Kipkenyo ward, Uasin Gishu), John Mbaka ( Mavuria ward, Embu), Charles Gitau (Ngewa ward, Kiambu), Boniface Osanga ( Khalaba Ward, Kakamega), Isaac Matolo (Mata ward, Taita Taveta), Thomas Muriuki (Mukure ward, Kirinyaga), Kung’u Smart (Kiamwangi ward, Kiambu), Timothy Mayabi (Lusheya/Lubini ward, Kakamega), Amos Makalo (Kasighau ward, Taita Taveta) and Ezekiel Ng’etich (Ziwa ward, Uasin Gishu), made it to the top 20 finest MCAs.
Previous winners of the coveted award include Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader Abdi Hassan Guyo who is now the Governor for Isiolo County.
The MCA’s post has emerged among the powerful ones under devolution.
MCAs oversight billions of shillings sent to counties alongside their representation and legislative roles.
Gisesa, also a trained financial economist and lawyer is a former journalist at The Standard and Nation.
Last year, Gisesa was in the spotlight after he filed a case in court accusing the County Government of Kisii for illegally trespassing to sections of Keroka town.
The Environment and Lands Court resolved the longstanding boundary dispute.
This decision came after years of contestation between Kisii and Nyamira counties over the territorial boundaries of Keroka town, dating back to 2015.
In the year 2013, Gisesa was declared among winners in the AJEA ceremony which was organized by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
Gisesa won the coveted journalistic award for his detailed investigative reporting on the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) operations in Somalia.
In the County Secretaries category, the top award was taken by Mandera’s Billow Hassan followed by Frank Muchina ( Nyandarua) and Godfrey Akumali(Nairobi).
In the Chief Officers category, Shakir Dahir, the Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Development in Kakamega County was ranked as the Chief Officer of the Year followed by Geoffrey Mosiria, the Chief Officer for Environment in Nairobi County.
Dr Winnie Bore, the Chief Officer for Medical Services in Baringo County came in third.
The top ranked County Executive Committee members were Solomon Obiero (Finance and Economic Planning CEC in Homabay County), David Muntet (Finance and Economic Planning CEC in Narok County), and Dr Betty Mogesi, the CEC for Trade, Tourism and Industrialisation in Migori County.
