Kenyans living in urban areas struggle more to get water than those living in rural areas
More people in urban areas face the challenge of accessing water than their counterparts in rural areas according to the latest report released today.
The survey by Twaweza East Africa on the citizens’ views and experiences on water, sanitation and hygiene indicate that more citizens living in cities are currently struggling to access the precious commodity compared to 1990.
The move is attributed to the increased rural-urban migration which has made it difficult for the government to keep pace with the trend.
As Kenya marks World Water Day today, the government has been urged to concentrate on the provision of clean water to its citizens living in the cities.
“Someone somewhere along the way will have to bear that cost to ensure that Kenya’s poor are not just left scrapping in the muck for dirty water that will; cost them more in the long run,” said Twaweza senior programmme officer Victor Rateng’.
The recent findings show that 62 per cent of rural Kenyans have access to an improved water source compared to 78 per cent of those living in urban areas.
In 1990, the data indicate that urban areas had 90 per cent access while that in rural stood at 35 per cent.
