Evaluation of Water Accessibility, Distribution, Water Use Policies and Management in Kenya

Abstract

Water is life; every living creature needs water to continue living. Recently, access to clean water for sanitation and consumption uses is a basic right for sustainable livelihood. Kenya has less than 1000 m3 per capita of renewable supplies of freshwater making it a water-scarce country as per the United Nations classification. In Kenya, climate change, and a high population growth rate has led to less availability, accessibility, quality, and quantity of water to meet human needs. Inadequate water poses a greater risk to food production, human health, energy production, economic development, and poverty reduction thus jeopardizing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The severe water crisis in Kenya has been due to some causes like drought, deforestation, floods, land pressure from population growth, water contamination, lack of proper water management measures, and ineffective water policies. Kenya continues to face challenges concerning the allocation, distribution, and management of its water resources to satisfy sectoral demands. This paper uses secondary data to evaluate the state of water accessibility and availability of water, economic analysis of water, water management policies, and problems facing water management in Kenya, and to provide recommendations to identified problems.

Keywords

• Kenya
• Water Policies
• Water costs
• Water Management

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