Kenya's water shortage a silent crisis

Water vendors queue for the precious commodity before heading to hawk to the residents of Kitengela town, Kajiado County, February 7, 2017. PHOTO: ELVIS OGINA

A 21st century Kenya should never be thirsty for water. To create tangible wealth, we must eradicate thirst in our homes and farms as a matter of urgency. It is shocking that more than 17 million Kenyans, half of the population, lack access to safe drinking water. Among these Kenyans are residents of Coke Soda Village of Mutha Ward in Kitui County. They buy water at Sh200 for a 20-litre container. Water may not be as expensive in other rural areas but its inaccessibility is just as dire.

Thousands of residents in Nairobi’s informal settlement may not walk for long distances in search of water but just like the Coke Soda residents, they pay similarly steep prices for water. A recent research by University of Nairobi, Strathmore University, Akiba Mashinani Trust and Katiba Institute revealed that ‘a family in the slum pays for water at 172 per cent more compared with a family living in a formal estate.’