Kenya’s water sector sees progress, but gaps in sanitation and equity persist

Kenya has made progress in expanding access to clean water and sanitation, but significant challenges remain, particularly in addressing systemic inefficiencies and adapting to climate change. The newly released 17th IMPACT Report by the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) offers a mixed assessment. National piped water coverage has increased from 65% to 70%, bringing access to over 21.5 million people—an addition of more than 3 million in a single year. Principal Secretary for Water, Julius Korir, attributed the gains to targeted investments and policy reforms, particularly in growing urban areas. Yet this progress is tempered by a sharp rise in non-revenue water (NRW)—treated water that is lost through leaks, theft, or faulty metering. NRW now stands at 45%, representing an estimated KSh11.9 billion in annual losses. These inefficiencies not only strain utility budgets but also result in higher tariffs and service disruptions for consumers. Sanitation poses even steeper hurdles. Although basic facilities like pit latrines are common, only 15% of the population is connected to formal sewerage systems. In 2024, just over 319,000 people were connected to sewers—far fewer than the 2.6 million added to the national population. The gap is most severe in informal settlements and fast-growing towns, where infrastructure lags behind demographic changes. Climate change is emerging as a defining challenge for the sector. Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eng. Eric Mugaa, called it bluntly: “Climate change is fundamentally a water crisis.” Kenya is experiencing both extremes—floods that destroy infrastructure and droughts that deplete water sources—hitting rural and marginalized areas hardest. The conference’s theme, “Innovative Financing and Technology for Climate-Smart Solutions,” highlights the need for urgent, adaptive responses. The sector currently faces a 46% funding shortfall to meet infrastructure demands.

Traditional government budgets and donor aid are insufficient, prompting a shift toward alternative financing models such as green bonds, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and results-based financing. Technology is also playing a critical role. Solar-powered water systems offer resilience against erratic power supply, while smart meters capable of detecting leaks in real time are becoming essential tools for utility management.

County governments are being urged to implement the newly gazetted Water Services Regulations 2025, aimed at improving governance and ensuring more equitable service delivery. A recurring message throughout the conference is the need for inclusivity. Water insecurity is unevenly distributed across gender and geography. In many rural communities, women and girls still bear the responsibility of fetching water, often at the expense of education and income-generating activities.

Counties like Narok, Mandera, and Marsabit remain significantly underserved, despite national plans targeting such regions for infrastructure development. With just five years left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), urgency is mounting. PS Korir emphasized that Kenya must increase water coverage by at least 2% annually and sewerage coverage by 3.5% to stay on track for its 2030 targets.

The cost of failure is not abstract—it will be borne by the millions of Kenyans for whom access to water is a daily struggle, not a guarantee. As policymakers, practitioners, and partners gather in Mombasa, the path forward is clear but difficult. Meaningful progress will require sustained investment, innovation, and a genuine commitment to equity—not just in rhetoric, but in results.