Kenya's Water Crisis
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This week's blog is going to delve into Kenya's current water crisis and some of the hydro-politics that are at play. I shall be discussing the causes for Kenya's current situation as well as the steps that have been taken to improve accessibility to water within the country.
Kenya, situated in East Africa, has been a country that has been suffering from an extreme water crisis (Marshall, 2011). The country has a medium human development index of 0.579, which ranks Kenya 147 out of 189 countries (CIA). In addition to this, over 36% of its 40 million population lives below the poverty line (CIA). Within Kenya, there is an evident issue with regards to accessibility to water - over 40% of this population does not have access to a clean source of water (Marshall, 2011). Moreover, it is also important to consider that Kenya's 'natural water resources do not provide an equitable delivery of water to the various regions of the country' (The Water Project, n.d.). Accessibility to water within the region is a key issue and it is therefore important to consider the factors that are influencing access to water resources.
The causes of Kenya's water crisis
There have been several key factors which have contributed towards Kenya's current water crisis.
Kenya's population is increasing rapidly. Now, more than ever, there is a higher demand for water resources. Kenya's rapid population growth has meant that there has been 'an increased need for funding, management and development of water resources' within the country (Marshall, 2011: 38). Whilst actions have been implemented in an attempt to improve the management of water within the country, these solutions have, for the most part, been unsuccessful. Kenya's National Water Development Report asserts that the country's water resources 'have been mismanaged through unsustainable water and land use policies, laws and institutions, weak water allocation practices, growing pollution and increasing degradation of rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers and their catchments' (Marshall, 2011: 39). Kenya has also been suffering from severe droughts, with water resources being 'dried out in half of Kenya's 47 counties' (Relief Web, n.d.). Climate change is a significant factor which has exacerbated droughts within the region which has, in turn, also had a negative multiplier effect on agriculture and livestock.
As shown in the graph above, between 1990 and 2006 there has approximately been a 20% increase in terms of the proportion of Kenya's population which have access to water in rural populations. However, despite this increase, there is still a huge difference between access to water in urban and rural areas. In 2006, the percentage of people with access to water in urban areas was at 85%, which was significantly greater than the figure for rural populations. Whilst rural water accessibility rates are increasing, it is still evident that there is too big a gap between accessibility figures in rural and urban areas. It is also important to recognise that access to water in urban areas has been gradually decreasing between 1990 and 2006. This can be attributed to Kenya's rapidly growing urban population, which has further strained water resources which were already becoming more scarce due to Kenya's ongoing water crisis.
Attempts to address the water crisis
Kenya has seen the implementation of a range of solutions in recent times, primarily from NGOs such as the The Water Project. In 2015, water ATMs were installed in Nairobi 'through a public-private partnership between Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC) and the Danish water engineering company Grundfos' (OWP, 2018). These ATMs could be used by local people to buy clean water for affordable prices (OWP, 2018). The aim of this scheme was to make clean water resources cheaper and more accessible for those living in informal settlements, who previously had to deal with 'high-priced, unclean water from private vendors' (OWP, 2018). Overall, this scheme led to local people living in informal settlements being able to access water resources at a more affordable rate.
Another scheme which has aimed to improve accessibility to water within Kenya has been the 'WaterCredit Initiative', initiated by Water.org (OWP, 2018). WaterCredit provides 'small loans' to residents of informal settlements within Kenya, allowing them to improve their household water systems (Water.org). Once these loans are repaid, they 'can be lent to another family in need of safe water or sanitation' (Water.org). Through the WaterCredit scheme, Kenyans are being empowered - 'the solution works because it recognises people as consumers with autonomy and empowers people to define their own futures' (Water.org).
Whilst the above examples showcase that such schemes can be effective in terms of making water resources more accessible, it is important to consider who is benefitting and who is being excluded. The water ATMs installed in Nairobi, for example, have led to local residents having greater access to water but this solution does not 'address the inequality of infrastructure' in significant parts of the city (OWP, 2018). In Nairobi, only 50% of the city's population has 'direct access to piped water' and there is currently a '25% shortfall in supply to Nairobi homes' according to the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (BBC, 2019). Infrastructure within the city is a key limiting factor with regard to populations who are unable to access water at their households and therefore have to travel long distances in order to obtain water. It is therefore also important to consider that those with a lack of mobility, particularly those of old age and those with health problems, have additional troubles with regards to accessing water resources.
This week's blog is going to delve into Kenya's current water crisis and some of the hydro-politics that are at play. I shall be discussing the causes for Kenya's current situation as well as the steps that have been taken to improve accessibility to water within the country.
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| Statistics about Kenya and its water crisis (Cesp Africa) |
Kenya, situated in East Africa, has been a country that has been suffering from an extreme water crisis (Marshall, 2011). The country has a medium human development index of 0.579, which ranks Kenya 147 out of 189 countries (CIA). In addition to this, over 36% of its 40 million population lives below the poverty line (CIA). Within Kenya, there is an evident issue with regards to accessibility to water - over 40% of this population does not have access to a clean source of water (Marshall, 2011). Moreover, it is also important to consider that Kenya's 'natural water resources do not provide an equitable delivery of water to the various regions of the country' (The Water Project, n.d.). Accessibility to water within the region is a key issue and it is therefore important to consider the factors that are influencing access to water resources.
The causes of Kenya's water crisis
There have been several key factors which have contributed towards Kenya's current water crisis.
Kenya's population is increasing rapidly. Now, more than ever, there is a higher demand for water resources. Kenya's rapid population growth has meant that there has been 'an increased need for funding, management and development of water resources' within the country (Marshall, 2011: 38). Whilst actions have been implemented in an attempt to improve the management of water within the country, these solutions have, for the most part, been unsuccessful. Kenya's National Water Development Report asserts that the country's water resources 'have been mismanaged through unsustainable water and land use policies, laws and institutions, weak water allocation practices, growing pollution and increasing degradation of rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers and their catchments' (Marshall, 2011: 39). Kenya has also been suffering from severe droughts, with water resources being 'dried out in half of Kenya's 47 counties' (Relief Web, n.d.). Climate change is a significant factor which has exacerbated droughts within the region which has, in turn, also had a negative multiplier effect on agriculture and livestock.
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| Access rates to clean water in Kenya (Marshall, 2011) |
As shown in the graph above, between 1990 and 2006 there has approximately been a 20% increase in terms of the proportion of Kenya's population which have access to water in rural populations. However, despite this increase, there is still a huge difference between access to water in urban and rural areas. In 2006, the percentage of people with access to water in urban areas was at 85%, which was significantly greater than the figure for rural populations. Whilst rural water accessibility rates are increasing, it is still evident that there is too big a gap between accessibility figures in rural and urban areas. It is also important to recognise that access to water in urban areas has been gradually decreasing between 1990 and 2006. This can be attributed to Kenya's rapidly growing urban population, which has further strained water resources which were already becoming more scarce due to Kenya's ongoing water crisis.
Attempts to address the water crisis
Kenya has seen the implementation of a range of solutions in recent times, primarily from NGOs such as the The Water Project. In 2015, water ATMs were installed in Nairobi 'through a public-private partnership between Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC) and the Danish water engineering company Grundfos' (OWP, 2018). These ATMs could be used by local people to buy clean water for affordable prices (OWP, 2018). The aim of this scheme was to make clean water resources cheaper and more accessible for those living in informal settlements, who previously had to deal with 'high-priced, unclean water from private vendors' (OWP, 2018). Overall, this scheme led to local people living in informal settlements being able to access water resources at a more affordable rate.
Another scheme which has aimed to improve accessibility to water within Kenya has been the 'WaterCredit Initiative', initiated by Water.org (OWP, 2018). WaterCredit provides 'small loans' to residents of informal settlements within Kenya, allowing them to improve their household water systems (Water.org). Once these loans are repaid, they 'can be lent to another family in need of safe water or sanitation' (Water.org). Through the WaterCredit scheme, Kenyans are being empowered - 'the solution works because it recognises people as consumers with autonomy and empowers people to define their own futures' (Water.org).
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