We Are Happiest When We Engage

Women protest against violence against women

Easter weekend finds me in Laikipia, apparently one of Kenya’s happiest counties. Amidst public tensions between Senators and Governors, dissatisfaction with living costs and a looming global fertiliser, oil and exports crisis caused by the US war on Iran, Easter’s message of renewal and hope feels timely, especially a few days before the Africa Urban Forum opens in Nairobi.

Bhutan, a South Asian Kingdom the size of Baringo County’s population of 749,000, became famous among economists when it instituted the Gross Happiness Index (GHI) in 2008. The GHI ranks countries on the quality of their governance, sustainable development and a cultural resilience and freedom.

Bhutan’s claim to be the world’s happiest nation (according to their own Index) is undermined by clear evidence of poverty, human rights abuses, intolerance toward Hindus and non‑Buddhist groups, and the use of unfair trials, torture, deportations, and press restrictions. This said, the idea of a happiness index is a fun. How would it apply across Kenya?

A disclaimer. What follows should be treated as indicative not statistically precise. Readers should not use this as the basis to relocate counties. All six levels of politicians must not use it to conclusively scream WANTAM or TWOTAM. Using the nine domains and 33 indicators of the GHI, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Laikipia and Uasin Gishu in this order, emerge as the happiest counties. They have some of the highest levels of life expectancy with strong levels of consistent community organising especially around the environment. Their students perform well in national exams and there are higher levels of literacy. Most of their populations have escaped the chronic poverty, harsh climate and natural resources conflicts seen in Turkana, Mandera and Wajir.

Whereas they have less employment and income opportunities than Kiambu and Nairobi, they have less violent crime. They also have shorter workplace commutes, noise and air pollution than Nairobi. If divorce rates are an indicator of unhappiness (some readers might disagree), then this five are doing much better than Lamu and Mombasa who currently top the divorce chart.

Liveability, safety, inclusion and happiness trends must preoccupy our county policymakers, urban planners and citizens more seriously in the African Urban Forum this coming week. Three out of ten Kenyans live in urban areas, and we have a national annual urbanisation rate of 2.8-3.7 per cent. All factors remaining equal, Kenya could be fully urban within a couple of generations. The rest of Africa and especially North and Southern Africa is moving much faster.

The well-being of Kenya’s 47 counties depends on how economic opportunities are created, essential services are provided and the degree of freedom and safety residents experience. Accountable and responsible governance is fundamental to this. To have over fourteen governors (Laikipia and Embu are among them) currently on the radar of the Auditor General, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Senate County Public Accounts Committee is tragic. To have Governors threaten to expose Senators for demanding bribes, but not name them and offer public evidence, is outrageous.

If anything shows the collapse of the social contract between elected representatives and citizens, it is this. Instead of taking bribery allegations to a court of law or even the court of public opinion, elected officials are trading the truth of who is more corrupt among themselves.

Active and vigilant citizens must continue to monitor and expose the unfinished health centres, extravagant prestige buildings, trips abroad and allowances for loyalists. “Tuko kadi” campaigns must go beyond sensitising all on their right to register and vote but why all eligible Kenyans need to vote wiser and more ethical leaders across all six levels.

The campaigns must focus on specific real and perceived problems populations face in all the counties, not just the ones the statistics suggest are the “unhappiest”. Current youth organising must be encouraged, resourced and protected from those that seek to keep our people disinterested, politically ignorant and financially malleable.

Despite blatant impunity and a high cost of living, Kenya still ranks 115th in the 2026 World Happiness Report. Young people under 30 remain the happiest group. Not surprisingly, the energy and impact of the past two years of youth driven activism is still paying dividends.

Happy Easter, hope and activism wishes to all residents across our 47 counties.

This opinion was also published in the Saturday Standard, 4 April 2026.