SAFE AND AFFORDABLE WATER 3
Forest Degradation
Deforestation is one of the historical factor that influences access to safe water.
Deforestation is the cutting down of trees. Forests are essential in the protection of water
catchment areas. Cutting down of trees negatively influence ecosystems like water. In Kenya,
logging for fuel is one of the highest reason forests are at risk (Ndahi & Maitho, 2017). The acts
of cutting trees have resulted in low rainfall. For instance, the largest Kenya forest located in
Mau, which distributes water to eight wildlife reserves, 10 million Kenyans depend on the water
for living and six lakes. However, farmers and loggers have damaged almost a quarter of the
forest, about 400,000 hectares. This has resulted in an enlarged runoff, which has undesirable
effects on both the rainy and the succeeding dry season. It has resulted in decreased rainfall and
increased dry seasons and hence a low level of water (Luo et al., 2018). Due to this forest
degradation, it is difficult for Kenya to achieve equitable access to safe drinking water. Also, the
provision of safe drinking water is hard because it experiences low levels of water.
Droughts
Over the past decade, Kenya has been experiencing a lot of droughts. Global warming in
the country is one of the factor that is worsening the condition. Kenya has continually
experienced sequences of lengthy droughts, and these lengthy cycles of droughts have increased
over time. According to the International Livestock Research Institute, the amount of rainfall
experienced in Kenya has considerably reduced in the past five years. Hence, desertification
continues to hit the state’s semi-arid countryside. This has reduced the available water and thus
caused insufficient access to safe drinking water (Musyimi, Nduru, Huho & Opiyo, 2018).
Cultural factors

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Affordable and Safe Drinking Water in Kenya Report 2022

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