Water Crisis in Kenya

Water Crisis in Kenya 

Despite having several lakes and groundwater sources in Kenya, with a population of 53 million, about 15 million Kenyans lack access to safe Water, while 22 million lack access to improved sanitation. Clean Water has been in high demand in Kenya due to climate change, population growth, food security, urbanization, water pollution and poor management of water resources (Mulwa et al.,2021). This study assessed the water scarcity issue in Kenya and the adaptive responses to help curb water shortage and sanitation. 

Water is the key to the economy across all sectors (Mulwa et al.,2021). Moreover, Water is the most crucial aspect for human and plant survival, hence the environment. One of the main reasons for the water crisis in Kenya is because of the increase in population which is a result of industrialization, urbanization and economic development thus resulting in increased standards of living and affecting water resources both directly and indirectly. Water scarcity in Kenya is an environmental issue affecting Falkenmark et al. (1989) and Leal Filho et al. (2020) note that the average renewable Water per capita per year should be 1700m3. Thus, countries whose supplies are below 1700m3 are projected to experience a water crisis. Kenya receives below 1000m3 water availability per capita annually, becoming one of the water-scarce countries. 

Poor drainage has resulted in Floods, leading to deaths and population displacement in some parts of Kenya like Mombasa and Budalangi. Industrialization has increased waste production; however, inadequate wastewater treatment resources and systems have resulted in waste disposal into the river system, leading to water pollution ((Mulwa et al. 2021). Water pollution leads to the degradation of the downstream systems and health problems for humans through consumption. 

One of the main economic activities in Kenya is agriculture, especially crop farming and livestock keeping. Water scarcity has a colossal impact on agriculture since it's the most significant water use sector. Unreliable rainfall and prolonged droughts have exposed Kenya to Hydrological anomalies. Extreme droughts and heatwaves in Northeastern Kenya, like Turkana and some of Ukambani, result from climatic change. High temperatures decrease crop production due to variable rainfall and soil moisture, leading to groundwater depletion due to restricted ground water recharge, reducing soil moisture. ( Leal Filho et al.2021).

In the cities, water supplies are unsafe and unreliable (. Leal Filho et al.2021.13). In congested areas full of informal settlements, poor households experience frequent water rationing and chronic shortages in drinking water. As a result, individuals compete in contaminated streams and ponds, leading to diseases such as cholera and typhoid outbreaks. In Rural areas, such as Ukambani and Turkana, where there is water scarcity, the women and children suffer the most. Robinson & Howland (2022) note that Women have to walk a long distance in search of Water to feed their children; however, in most cases, the men tend to move to greener pastures, leaving women behind and anguishing in poverty and stress, affecting their mental and physical health. 

One possible solution to the water crisis in urban areas is practicing water hygiene Robinson & Howland, (2022. Water hygiene methods include boiling or adding purifications before drinking to curb Waterborne diseases such as typhoid. Drilling the boreholes in rural areas and areas that are frequently affected by drought such as Turkana, will help individuals access Water easily without much strain, hence improving mental and physical well-being (Oxfam,2017). Nevertheless, the boreholes will be the source of Water for irrigation schemes; thus, the residents will be able to grow crops any time of the year, thus curbing food shortage. 

The water supply model is shown in the figure below:

Conclusion 

Water crisis due to climate change is one of the worst environmental crises in Kenya. Water affects Kenya's social and economic aspects; hence, it is vital for humans and the ecosystem. The need for not only Water but clean, safe and quality Water both in rural and urban settlements is still a nightmare to most Kenyans, especially those from congested areas in urban centers, those near contaminated water sources and the rural regions which experience prolonged drought. Drilling boreholes in drought-affected areas and boiling and purifying Water for drinking will help reduce waterborne diseases in congested areas.

References

Leal Filho, W., Totin, E., Franke, J. A., Andrew, S. M., Abubakar, I. R., Azadi, H., ... & Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative Team. (2022). Understanding responses to climate-related water scarcity in Africa. Science of the Total Environment, 806, 150420. file:///C:/Users/Admin/Videos/movies/1-s2.0-S0048969721054978-am.pdf 

Mulwa, F., Li, Z., & Fangninou, F. F. (2021). Water scarcity in Kenya: current status, challenges and future solutions. Open Access Library Journal, 8(1), 1-15. https://www.scirp.org/pdf/oalibj_2021011916254447.pdf 

Oxfam(2017). Breaking the cycle of Turkana's drought crisis. https://reliefweb.int/report/kenya/breaking-cycle-turkanas-drought-crisis 

Robinson, J., Majiwa, H., & Howland, O. (2022). Understanding Household Water Hygiene in Resource-Limited Settings in Kenya. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/84477