Kenya is steadily improving access to water and sanitation, though gaps remain, particularly in rural areas and irrigation coverage, according to the Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board.
The Yearbook reports that as of 2025, national water coverage stood at 73%, with urban areas reaching 87% and rural communities at 62%.
Sanitation coverage was recorded at 78%, while the country produces an estimated 4,200 million cubic metres of water annually. Average household consumption ranges between 70 and 90 litres per day.
Irrigation coverage remains limited, with only about 664,000 acres currently utilized—roughly 35% of the country’s 1.9 million-acre potential.
The State Department for Irrigation and the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) are spearheading efforts to expand irrigated land to boost agricultural productivity and support food security.
The water sector is managed by multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, the Water Resources Authority, the Athi Water Works Development Agency, the Water Services Regulatory Board, and regional Water Services Boards.
The government is implementing reforms under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), aiming to achieve universal water and sanitation access by 2030, strengthen irrigation infrastructure, and ensure sustainable water management.
“The government remains committed to transforming Kenya’s water sector, improving access for all citizens, and supporting agriculture through expanded irrigation,” the Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board noted.