Mombasa Woman Representative Zaym Zam Mohamed has emerged as the highest-rated woman representative in a new public approval ranking, securing the top position with an impressive 86 per cent.
Mohamed leads a field of ten women representatives drawn from different regions of the country, with Embu Woman Representative Pamela Njoki coming second at 83 per cent, followed by Kajiado Woman Representative Leah Sankaire at 81 per cent.
The assessment considers public perceptions of visibility, accessibility, responsiveness, constituency engagement, local development contribution and overall effectiveness.
Mohamed’s first-place ranking reflects the strong public profile she has built through grassroots engagement and programmes targeting vulnerable groups. Her constituency work has particularly focused on women and youth empowerment, with efforts aimed at linking beneficiaries to government opportunities and supporting economic inclusion.
She has also championed interventions targeting vulnerable women, including widows, while advocating for their access to government funds and other empowerment opportunities. Her parliamentary engagement on gender equality, affirmative action and youth empowerment has further enhanced her profile as a leader whose work extends beyond constituency-level programmes.
With her 86 per cent approval rating, Mohamed enjoys a three-point lead over Njoki, who has established a strong reputation in Embu through education and social support programmes.
One of Njoki’s notable initiatives is the Restored Hope programme, which has helped teen mothers who dropped out of school return to education through scholarship support. Her office has also been involved in relief food distribution targeting vulnerable households affected by drought and food insecurity.
Sankaire takes third place with 81 per cent, with her work in Kajiado strongly associated with education, menstrual health and economic empowerment. She has spearheaded sanitary towel distribution programmes targeting girls in public schools, while also supporting community groups through livelihood initiatives designed to strengthen household incomes.
Meru Woman Representative Elizabeth Kailemia occupies fourth position with 79 per cent. Her constituency interventions have bincluded the distribution of sanitary towels to schoolgirls, an initiative aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene, dignity and regular school attendance. She has also been involved in advocacy around the protection of girls and women from harmful practices, including female genital mutilation.
Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda is fifth with 76 per cent. Muhanda has been vocal on education financing and the need for timely disbursement of school capitation, while her constituency programmes have also included support for women’s groups and community initiatives.
Trans Nzoia Woman Representative Lilian Chebet follows in sixth position with 73 per cent. Her ranking reflects public recognition of her constituency visibility, grassroots engagement and involvement in issues affecting women, young people and local communities.
Lamu Woman Representative Muthoni Marubu occupies seventh position with 70 per cent. She has maintained a visible grassroots presence in the county through community mobilisation and engagement, while her political and constituency activities have continued to focus on socio-economic issues affecting residents.
Kericho Woman Representative Beatrice Kemei ranks eighth with 68 per cent. Her record includes a focus on education access through bursary support and community engagement, alongside advocacy against gender-based violence and femicide and initiatives aimed at protecting women and girls.
Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau takes ninth position with 65 per cent. One of the notable initiatives associated with her constituency has been the installation of solar-powered floodlights in rural trading centres, aimed at improving security and supporting economic activity in areas that previously experienced inadequate lighting. She has also maintained parliamentary engagement through participation in committees dealing with House business, parliamentary privileges and social protection.
Completing the top ten is Isiolo Woman Representative Mumina Bonayo, who scored 63 per cent. Bonayo has maintained an active parliamentary profile through her participation in committees dealing with communication, information and innovation, as well as public investments, governance and education.
The ranking brings together women representatives from the Coast, Eastern, Rift Valley, Western, Central and northern regions, highlighting the geographical diversity of leaders receiving strong public approval.
The results suggest that visibility, accessibility, responsiveness, grassroots engagement and perceived delivery remain important factors in shaping how constituents assess their elected representatives.
The assessment involved 7,290 respondents, with fieldwork conducted between August 15 and September 9, 2026. Interviews were conducted by telephone using contacts collected through face-to-face household interviews, with Swahili and English among the principal languages used. The reported margin of error is ±2.058 per cent, with larger margins applicable to smaller sub-samples.
