Report Shows Millions Lack Basic Sanitation Services

A new report by WASREB (Water Services Regulatory Board) reveals that many Kenyans still lack access to basic sanitation, highlighting a major public health challenge. According to the Impact Report No. 17 (2025), only 29% of Kenyans had access to safely managed sanitation as of 2022, significantly lagging behind global averages.
The report shows that open defecation and the use of unimproved latrines remain common in rural and peri‑urban communities, contributing to sanitation inequalities across the country. In addition, just 59% of households had access to basic hand-washing facilities, raising serious concerns about hygiene and disease prevention.
According to the UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report 2025, about 3.4 billion people globally still lack safely managed sanitation services — a reminder that sanitation challenges are not unique to Kenya. Meanwhile, in Kenya, around six million people reportedly practice open defecation, according to Ministry of Health statistics.
Health and sanitation experts are warning that these gaps put millions at risk of waterborne illnesses, especially in marginalized and rural areas. They are calling for urgent investment, improved sanitation infrastructure, and stronger behavior-change campaigns to close the sanitation divide.