better with water arrives in Kenya: toward better access to water for residents of Kisumu’s informal settlements

Following a promising exploratory mission to Kenya in October 2023, better with water has launched a feasibility study in the city of Kisumu, a major urban center in western Kenya located on the shores of Lake Victoria.

With the official support of the local utility, Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company (KIWASCO), the study began in March 2024, in partnership with the local NGO Slum Dwellers International Kenya (SDI-K) and the community movement Muungano Wa Wanavijiji, which represents residents of informal settlements. The study focused on four communities: Gonda, Flamingo, Komer, and Bandani, while also incorporating a broader analysis of water governance in Kenya.

In these neighborhoods, over 75% of households rely on water kiosks to access water. It is common to see residents carrying 20-liter jerrycans to supply their households. This task, which largely falls on women and girls, represents not only a physical burden but also a significant health risk due to the potential recontamination of water during transport and storage.

Using water kiosks also comes at a cost: due to the lack of price regulation, households pay on average 2.7 times more than the official tariff charged by the utility. With an average monthly consumption of 6 m³, nearly 10% of their income is spent on water.

Finally, access to water remains in the hands of a small number of individuals, reinforcing problematic power dynamics. In a context where gender-based violence is heavily condemned in Kenya, ensuring direct access to water at home also means fighting against sexual extortion for water. The year 2024 ended on a positive note with the signing of an operational Memorandum of Understanding with KIWASCO. In 2025, better with water is moving to the next phase with the arrival of Charlotte Mathieu as project manager. Her mission will be to lead the project launch and implement the first field operations.

Planned for 2025 :

• Finalization of partnerships with local stakeholders
• Preparation for operational launch
• Planning of community engagement work