Water Scarcity in Kenya: Current Status, Challenges and Future Solutions
Faith Mulwa, Zhuo Li, Fangnon Firmin Fangninou
Abstract
Growing water demand and water scarcity have turned into a prominent challenge to livelihood in several parts worldwide. Global warming, water pollution, population growth, urbanization, and poor management of water resources have aggravated the issue of the water crisis. Water scarcity is expected to affect socio-economic activities, food security, education, health, and intensity climate change, hereby has caught the attention of the public. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, Clean water and sanitation, sets various targets to make water sustainable for use by the year 2030. However, water scarcity assessment remains a challenge. Kenya, which has a growing population, is known as a water-scarce country due to its low supply of renewable freshwater (<1000 m 3 /capita/year). Different initiatives are put in place to help in the mitigation and management of water resources. They include water policies to ensure the protection of water catchment areas, reduction of pollution as well as enhancing access to clean water and sanitation. This paper reviewed some of the water scarcity challenges in Kenya and potential future solutions.