World Water Day: Families' daily struggle for clean water as waterborne diseases surge

As the world observes World Water Day on Saturday, the struggle for clean and affordable water remains a pressing issue for many communities, both in rural and urban areas. Vulnerable populations, particularly those living in Nairobi's informal settlements, bear the brunt of this crisis.

The deterioration of water treatment programs has left countless people with no choice but to consume untreated water, exposing them to a higher risk of waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea. For many, access to safe drinking water is no longer a guarantee.

Tunai Wasike, a mother of three residing in Majengo and a fast-food vendor in Eastleigh, faces a daily struggle to protect her children from consuming unsafe water. Despite her efforts to boil drinking water at home, she often finds that her older children drink directly from the local water points in Majengo, which are unhygienic and unsafe.

“I try my best to ensure my children drink safe water when I’m around. I boil the water and store it in a designated container, but sometimes they still end up drinking unclean water,” she says.

Wasike highlights the growing issue of unscrupulous water vendors who sell unsafe water, making it difficult for families to access safe drinking water. “Some people even bottle unclean water and sell it, and there’s no way to monitor them,” she adds.

To safeguard her children’s health, she gives them a medication called Hashton weekly, hoping it kills any germs they may have ingested. However, she acknowledges that preventive measures like washing hands with running water remain a luxury in the slums.

"Here, we have to buy water, so reminding children to wash their hands regularly is impractical, especially when you’re not around. That’s why diseases like diarrhoea continue to spread," she explains.

Survival battle

For families like Wasike’s, the struggle for clean water is not just about access—it’s a daily battle for survival.

For Madina Aisha, a resident of Majengo, access to clean water has long been a challenge, but over time, she and her children have adapted. She notes that they consume water directly from the local water points without boiling it and rarely experience illnesses like diarrhoea.

“Personally, I don’t boil water. We fetch it from the water point, store it in a clean container, and drink it as it is. We hardly ever fall sick,” she says.

According to Aisha, boiling water was a common practice in the past when responsibilities were fewer. However, with the growing demands of daily life and the constant hustle to make ends meet, such precautions have faded.

“Sometimes, children drink directly from the taps outside. Even if you boil water at home, they’ve already consumed it elsewhere. I believe our bodies have adapted to the water,” she adds.

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Rose Auma, a water vendor confirms that water shortages remain a persistent issue, making access both difficult and costly. She explains that on some days, taps run dry, forcing people to seek water from distant locations, where prices are higher.

“We sell water for between Sh5 and Sh10 per jerrycan because many people can’t afford higher prices. But there are days we go without water, making hygiene even worse in these areas,” she says.

Like many others, Auma does not boil the water she sells, believing it is clean from the source. She also prefers cold water for its taste.

“We used to have water dispensers from the government where people paid with coins and had their keys. It was affordable and guaranteed clean because it was treated. But now, those taps have dried up,” she laments.

Access to clean water remains a major challenge in Nairobi in general and worse in the slums, where water is scarce and vendors use every possible means to source it. Some have illegally tapped underground pipes, while others rely on water truck deliveries.

In areas like Eastleigh, water prices range from Sh20 to Sh50 per 20-litre jerrycan, depending on the season. Borehole water, often supplied by trucks, is a common alternative. However, the lack of a consistent and safe water supply continues to drive a surge in communicable diseases, as proper hygiene practices become nearly impossible without reliable access to water.

The World Health Organization notes that Unsafe water and poor sanitation fuel the spread of cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio, putting millions at risk, especially in healthcare settings. In acute-care hospitals, 7% of patients in high-income countries (HICs) and 15% in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) contract infections due to inadequate hygiene.

Contaminated urban, industrial, and agricultural wastewater exposes millions to harmful chemicals like arsenic, fluoride, and lead, further endangering public health.

Each year, 1 million people die from diarrheal diseases, with 395,000 deaths among children under five, largely preventable through improved water, sanitation, and hygiene. Limited water access often leads to poor hand hygiene, exacerbating disease transmission.

Despite multiple policy and program interventions, diarrhoea remains a leading cause of illness and death among children under five in Kenya. Efforts to improve access to clean water and sanitation have fallen short, particularly following the withdrawal of key development partners.

Global partners for development note that nearly half of schools in East Africa lack basic sanitation facilities such as toilets, forcing children to learn in unhygienic conditions.

In Kenya, 9.4 million people rely on contaminated surface water for drinking, exposing them to serious health risks. The situation is even more alarming in the least developed countries, where half of the schools do not have designated handwashing areas for students. Globally, 2.2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, underscoring the widespread nature of the crisis.

Many Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs in Kenya were initially supported through partnerships between the government and organizations like UNICEF. However, with the withdrawal of funding, numerous programs have stalled, leaving millions vulnerable to waterborne diseases and worsening sanitation conditions.

In 2024, the Ministry of Health launched the Epuka Uchafu Afya Nyumbani Initiative to improve sanitation in informal settlements and areas facing water scarcity. However, the situation remains dire, with overflowing sewers and contaminated water making it nearly impossible for families to maintain basic hygiene. As a result, many remain highly vulnerable to disease. Despite its intentions, the program appears to have made little impact due to persistent challenges in accessing clean water and proper sanitation.