By Sandra Blessings
After decades of poor performance and incessant power struggles, the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency (LVSWWDA) has woken up and is currently among the top ten performers in the country.
For the last two years, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency, Ms. Jackline Kemunto, has steadied the ship and transformed the state agency into one of the top performers in the country. This year, the water works development agency emerged fourth best in the State Corporation top performers in performance contracting rankings of the public service.
The changing tide has repositioned the water agency, and it now joins the league of top performers in Kenya. All the top 10 performers achieved their set core mandate targets and were marked as “Excellent.”
Top 10 Performing State Corporations
The top 10 Performing State Corporations were:
- Kenya Industrial Estates – 1.7999
- Tharaka University – 1.8554
- Kenya Institute of Special Education – 2.0949
- Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency – 2.1027
- Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital – 2.1520
- Chuka University – 2.1706
- The Co-operative University of Kenya – 2.2147
- University of Nairobi – 2.2239
- National Research Fund – 2.2776
- National Syndemic Diseases Control Council – 2.2815
It is worth noting that five out of the top 10 performing State Corporations during the FY 2023/2024 managed to retain their positions among the Top 10 Performers during the FY 2024/2025 cycle. These include Kenya Industrial Estates, Tharaka University, The Co-operative University of Kenya, University of Nairobi, and the National Research Fund.
Score Breakdown by Category
In the Performance Evaluation Results for State Corporations by Functional Category under the Service Sector, Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency came second after the Kenya Institute of Special Education out of 709 institutions.
On performing State Corporations Based on Core Mandate, Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency came fourth with a score of 1.1400. The top three positions were taken by:
- Kenya Industrial Estates – 0.8457
- Tharaka University – 0.9591
- Kenya Institute of Special Education – 1.1338
Within the Environmental Protection, Water, and Natural Resources Sector Working Group, Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency took first place at 2.1027. It was closely followed by:
- Water Resources Authority – 2.3102
- Athi Water Works Development Agency – 2.4344
- National Irrigation Authority – 2.4499
- Northern Water Works Development Agency – 2.4620
The Grading System Explained
A performance grade of “Excellent” or “Very Good” signifies the achievement and/or surpassing of a performance target. On the other hand, a performance grade of either “Good”, “Fair”, or “Poor” signifies non-achievement.
The performance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) is further categorized into a 5-point scale based on their Composite Scores. The Composite Scores range from 1.0000 to 5.0000, where a score of 1.0000 is the absolute best while 5.0000 is the worst.
A total of 486 MDAs were placed on Performance Contracts during the contract period, comprising:
- 22 Ministries
- State House
- Office of the Deputy President
- Office of the Attorney General & Department of Justice
- Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service
- 269 State Corporations
- 191 Tertiary Institutions
Annual Performance Evaluations for these institutions were undertaken between October 2025 and January 2026.
Evaluation Process
The rigorous evaluation was undertaken in three systematic steps:
- Self-Evaluation: Each MDA undertook an internal self-performance evaluation.
- Scrutiny & Moderation: An external team of evaluators drawn from the Public Service Performance Management Unit (PSPMU) moderated the self-evaluation results through strict scrutiny of evidence provided by each MDA to support their reported achievements.
- Score Computation: Actual achievements were determined against the performance targets stipulated in the approved Performance Contracts (PCs) to calculate the final Raw Scores, Weighted Scores, and Composite Scores.
The performance evaluation results were analyzed based on average composite scores, select performance criteria, and indicators for all 486 MDAs. Further analysis was tied to the 10 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Sector Working Groups, Ministries, and functional categories for State Corporations and Tertiary Institutions.
Overall Public Sector Outlook
The overall performance of the 486 MDAs based on the average composite score was 3.0540, which translates to a performance grade of “GOOD” in the FY 2024/2025. This marks a positive step up compared to the average achievement of 3.1190 recorded in the FY 2023/2024.
Out of the 269 State Corporations evaluated:
- 17 (6.32%) attained an “EXCELLENT” Performance Grade.
- 134 (49.81%) attained a “VERY GOOD” Grade.
- 109 (40.52%) achieved a “GOOD” Grade.
- 9 (3.35%) achieved a “FAIR” Grade.
- None attained a “POOR” Grade.
Finally, a new dawn has arrived for Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency. The turnaround marks the end of an era of underperformance as a new chapter of efficiency opens up under its current leadership.
