Households Access to Piped Water in Kenya by County - Data

Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and a basic necessity.^[1] In Kenya, piped water is classified as an improved source of water, with a reduced risk of contamination from pathogens.

This post provides data and statistics on piped water access in Kenya from 1999 to 2022.

Quick Facts

• In 2022, the KDHS found that 25.3% of households in Kenya had access to piped water in their homes, yards, or plots.^[2]
• The percentage of the population in Kenya with access to piped water was 21.3% in 2022.
• In 2022, Households in urban areas had higher access to piped water, at 40.1%, than those in rural areas, at 15.3%.

Little progress has been made to increase piped water access in Kenya

The share of households with access to piped water in 2019 was 24.2%, a decline from 30% in 2009.^{[3] [4]}

In urban areas, the percentage of households with piped water access dropped from 53.1% in 2009 to 42% in 2019. 

In rural areas, the percentage of households with access to piped water was 12.9% in 2019, a decline from 15.8% in 2009.

Piped water access in urban areas recorded the highest decline, from 84.8% of households with access to piped water in 1989 to only 42% in 2019.^[5]

The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey showed a small increase in piped water access in 2022. It found that 25.3% of households in Kenya had access to piped water. In urban areas, households with piped water access in 2022 were 40.1%, while in rural areas, it was 15.3%.

Distribution of piped water access in Kenya by county in 2019

The census 2019 provides data on the percentage of households in each county with access to piped water. It includes those whose water is piped into their dwelling units or houses and those whose water is piped to their yard, compound, or plot.

Nyeri County had the highest access to piped water, with 64.3% of households having piped water. This consisted of 24.1% of households with water piped into their houses and 40.2% of households with water piped to the yard or plot.^[6]

Kiambu County had the second highest piped water access, at 53%. It was followed by Nairobi County, at 51.1%, Embu, at 49.3%, Kirinyaga, at 47.2%, Tharaka Nithi, at 42.9%, Meru, at 42.5%, Murang'a, at 37.4%, and Taita Taveta, at 36.1%.

In 2019, Nyamira and Marsabit counties had the lowest access to piped water, with only 1.9% of households having access. Others include Kisii, at 2.1%; Migori, at 2.7%; Homa Bay, at 3%; Wajir, at 3.3%; Mandera, at 3.4%; Narok, at 4.6%; Siaya, at 5.1%, Kitui, at 5.1%, Vihiga, at 5.6%, and Machakos, at 6.5%.

Few counties made progress in increasing water access

Between 1999 and 2019, some countries increased the number of households with access to piped water while others did not.^{[7] [8]}

• In 1999, 44% of Nyeri households had access to piped water, which increased to 64.3% in 2019.
• Kiambu moved from 35% of households with access to piped water in 1999 to 53% in 2019.
• In 1999, 30% of Embu households had access to piped water, which increased to 49.3% in 2019.
• In Kirinyaga, 28% of households had access to piped water in 1999, an increase of 47.2% in 2019.
• Households with access to piped water in Elgeyo Marakwet increased from 13% in 1999 to 18.6% in 2019.
• In Tana River, 5% of households had access to piped water in 1999, an increase of 10.7% in 2019. 

Other counties saw significant declines in water access between 1999 and 2019. For instance, the number of households with access to piped water in Nairobi decreased from 93% in 1999 to 51.1% in 2019.

• In Mombasa, households with piped water in 1999 were 80%, declining to 12.4% in 2019.
• In Taita Taveta, piped water access declined from 57% in 1999 to 36.1% in 2019.
• In Meru, access to piped water declined from 55% in 1999 to 42.5% in 2019.
• Piped water access in Nakuru County declined from 42% in 1999 to 27.5% in 2019.

See Also

1. Household access to basic sanitation services in Kenya by County
2. Electricity Access in Kenya by County
3. Internet access in Kenya by County

References