Affordable and Safe Drinking Water in Kenya Report 2022

Running Head: SAFE AND AFFORDABLE WATER 1
Affordable and Safe Drinking Water in Kenya
Name of Student
Name of Professor
Institution Affiliation
Date

SAFE AND AFFORDABLE WATER 2
Introduction
As per 2018, Kenya Gross National Income (GNI) per capita was $1620, and hence it is
classified as one of the developing country. Five years after countries signed the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), they have put in measures to achieve them. The
provision of safe water is an essential aspect since it is necessary for energy and food security,
poverty eradication, and human health. According to the SDGs report of 2019, the number of
people using safe drinking water between 2000 and 2017 had raised from 61% to 71%. However,
in most developing countries like Kenya, most of their population relies upon getting water from
unimproved sources like rivers, ponds, and shallow wells. In 2019, 41% of Kenyans did not have
access to safe water (Nilsson, Griggs & Visbeck, 2016). Due to the underlying historical,
cultural, and structural conditions in Kenya, it is hard for it to achieve equitable access to
affordable and safe drinking water for all by 2030. This essay aims to critically analyse the
cultural, structural, and historical aspects that influence this goal in Kenya.
Historical, cultural and structural factors
The attainment of this goal needs adequate and effective efforts geared towards it. Kenya
is a country that experiences a lot of water scarcity, and hence attaining this goal is a hard task
and requires a lot of expansion and development directed towards the sector. Lack of access to
safe drinking water mainly affects women and children. Women and children strain a lot while
looking for water, especially for domestic use since they are primarily tasked with this role.
Some of the factors that hinder the attainment of this goal include;
Historical factors

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