Report Shows Millions Still Lack Adequate Sanitation

A recent analysis of sanitation in Kenya has revealed a stark reality: tens of millions of Kenyans remain without access to safe, improved toilet facilities, highlighting deep inequalities in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. According to data from Stats Kenya, only about 36.5 percent of the population used basic sanitation services in 2022 — leaving an estimated 37.1 million people relying on shared, unimproved, or nonexistent toilets. Health authorities say this gap contributes to preventable disease and places a heavy burden on public health.
The Commission on Revenue Allocation’s State of Inequality in Kenya report underscores this unequal access. The report found that urban areas enjoy much better sanitation coverage than rural regions: nearly 76 percent of urban households have access to improved sanitation, compared to just 36 percent in rural counties.These disparities are especially pronounced in counties such as Turkana, Wajir, and Samburu, where open defecation remains common and infrastructure investment is severely lacking.
The public health implications are serious. According to Ministry of Health statistics, about six million Kenyans still practice open defecation, and many more use substandard latrines — a scenario that contributes to disease transmission, environmental contamination, and lost economic productivity. Experts warn that unless sanitation services are scaled up across marginalized regions, Kenya risks missing its national water and hygiene goals, with ripple effects for health, education, and gender equity.
To address this crisis, development partners and county governments are ramping up investment. The United Nations has pledged increased support, including funding and technical assistance, while WASH high-priority counties are being targeted for accelerated infrastructure rollout. Policymakers say the long-term solution will require sustained public investment, county-level planning, and community-driven sanitation projects — especially in the rural and underserved counties that remain most affected.