The Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA) has emerged as Kenya’s best-performing parastatal, according to the latest Kenya Track Survey, placing it at the apex of a ranking that highlights state corporations making notable contributions to infrastructure development, public service delivery and economic transformation.
The survey, released on August 26, 2026, ranked NaMATA first with an impressive 80 per cent, followed by the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) at 78 per cent and the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) at 75 per cent.
The ranking provides an assessment of ten state institutions operating across critical sectors of the economy, including transport, education, healthcare, water, agriculture, tourism, media and maritime trade.
According to the survey, NaMATA’s strong showing is anchored in its progressive work towards establishing an integrated, safe, reliable, affordable and seamless public transport system for Nairobi and the surrounding metropolitan counties.
The Authority’s mandate covers Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado and Murang’a, with its interventions centred on long-term solutions to congestion and the modernisation of metropolitan mobility.
NaMATA has advanced the development of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), integrating Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), commuter rail and non-motorised transport.
Five BRT corridors have been gazetted, while planning and design work continues on various corridors. BRT Line 2 along Thika Superhighway is undergoing infrastructure upgrades, while detailed designs for Phase I of Line 3 have been completed.
At 78 per cent, KISE secured second position, with the survey highlighting its pivotal contribution to special-needs and inclusive education.
The institute has expanded specialised training in areas including inclusive education, autism, Kenyan Sign Language, Braille, learner support and caregiving.
It has also strengthened assessment and outreach programmes while contributing to national research and awareness on disability.
Kenya Railways Corporation, which ranked third with 75 per cent, was recognised for its central role in transforming the country’s railway infrastructure, particularly through the development and operation of the Standard Gauge Railway.
The survey noted the wider economic significance of railway investments, citing improved cargo movement, passenger connectivity and the development of commuter rail services as important components of Kenya’s broader transport strategy
The National Irrigation Authority, formerly known as the National Irrigation Board, occupied fourth position with 72 per cent, with its contribution associated with the development and management of irrigation schemes aimed at increasing agricultural production, strengthening food security and improving resilience against unreliable rainfall and climate variability.
Athi Water Works Development Agency ranked fifth with 71 per cent, with its investments in water infrastructure cited as instrumental in enhancing water production, distribution and long-term water security across Nairobi and neighbouring counties.
Among the agency’s notable projects is the Kigoro Water Treatment Plant, commissioned in November 2024 and designed to improve water access for more than 1.2 million people across Murang’a, Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos and Kajiado.
The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) occupied sixth position with 69 per cent, reflecting its strategic role in the procurement, storage and distribution of essential medicines and health products to public health facilities.
The survey highlighted KEMSA’s adoption of electronic locks, data loggers and an advanced Enterprise Resource Planning system as part of efforts to strengthen supply-chain security, transparency, accountability and efficiency.
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) ranked seventh with 67 per cent, with the assessment highlighting its contribution to professional journalism, journalist training, accreditation, media monitoring and the promotion of ethical standards.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) followed in eighth position with 65 per cent, recognised for its pivotal role in curriculum transformation and the development of the Competency-Based Curriculum, with emphasis on digital literacy, critical thinking, creativity, communication and practical learning.
The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) ranked ninth with 63 per cent, with the survey underscoring its contribution to tourism investment, development initiatives, employment creation and the strengthening of the wider tourism value chain.
Rounding off the top ten was the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) at 62 per cent. The survey highlighted the authority’s investments in port infrastructure, container-handling equipment and digitalisation, noting that container traffic at the Port of Mombasa exceeded two million TEUs in 2025.
The Kenya Track Survey was conducted between July 21 and August 18, 2026, through telephonic interviews involving 4,371 adults drawn from rural and urban areas across the country. The sample was distributed proportionately to population size through random sampling, with a reported sampling error of ±3 per cent at a 95 per cent confidence level.
The survey’s overall assessment underscores the strategic significance of parastatals in Kenya’s development architecture, particularly in delivering essential services, developing infrastructure, regulating critical sectors and supporting government programmes.
The rankings ultimately paint a picture of institutions whose performance is increasingly being measured through tangible service delivery, technological innovation, infrastructure expansion and their capacity to respond to emerging national needs.
Kenya Track concludes that sustaining these gains will require stronger accountability, prudent utilisation of public resources, technological innovation, effective leadership and continuous improvement in service delivery.
