Kenya is classified among the most water scarce countries in the world. This fact, coupled with more frequent cycles of severe weather and depleting natural resources, is making water less available for agricultural and domestic use, especially in the country’s arid and semi-arid regions.
Access to safe water and improved sanitation is a challenge in Kenya. Many Kenyans living in rural areas still walk long distances for water, often collecting it from unsafe sources. These conditions have a profound effect on public health, causing undernutrition, illness and disease, particularly in children under the age of five. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, often sacrificing their own education and enrichment to trek long distances in search of water for their families.