Kenyans drink dirty water due to poor management, study says

Challenges in accessing safe drinking water and sanitation are driving many Kenyans to unsafe consumption.

The Water Resource Authority (WRA) 2023-2027 strategic plan unveiled in Nairobi Thursday reveals that decades of under investment in water infrastructure, poor management, pollution, erosion, and overuse of underground water sources are worsening the country’s water crisis.

“For decades, water scarcity has been a significant issue in Kenya, caused mainly by years of recurrent droughts, poor management of water supply, contamination of the available water, and a sharp increase in water demand resulting from relatively high population growth,” the plan notes.

WRA stated the importance of water quality, highlighting it as a critical part of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Specifically, Goal Six aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, stating the urgency of addressing water quality issues. 

The plan notes that the Constitution recognises access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a fundamental human right.

However, the challenge of providing clean, affordable drinking water is a growing burden on the nation’s economic and social development.

Other than the challenges affecting the access to clean drinking water and sanitation, WRA identified other critical factors affecting water access, including climate change, emerging pollutants, and the complexities of managing trans-boundary water resources.

The impact of climate change, the plan states, is evident through alterations in precipitation patterns, leading to irregular availability of water.

Emerging pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and waste, is another growing concern according to the agency. 

WRA notes that these contaminants, often not monitored, pose threats to both human health and the environment.

“These emerging pollutants majorly cut across pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, industrial and household chemicals, metals, industrial additives, and solvents,” it states.

WRA noted that the issue adds complexity to Kenya’s water quality problems.

During the launch, Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation Eric Mugaa emphasised the importance of the strategic plan amid the rising demand for water resources due to the country’s developmental needs.

“This plan demonstrates our commitment to securing water resources for the economic and social well-being of every Kenyan,” he said.

The strategic plan outlines several key goals, including gathering reliable water resource data and evidence-based decision-making.

The water agency aims to enhance its data collection, analysis, and dissemination to improve management of water resources.