Implications of time to water source on water use in the arid and semi-arid land counties of Kenya. (24th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Afullo, Augustine Otieno; Danga, Benjamin Oginga; Odhiambo, Frank
• Is Part Of: International journal of water. Volume 8:Number 4(2014)
• Page Start: 381
• Page End: 400
• Publication Date: 2014-11-24
• Subjects: opportunity cost of fetching water -- water burden on children -- water burden on women -- per capita water use -- water access -- water sources -- water supply -- arid Kenya -- semi-arid Kenya -- improved water source -- Kenya; Water -- Periodicals; Water resources development -- Periodicals; 553.705
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1465-6620

Abstract

Distance to water sources has major implications on per capita water use for Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). About 4, 872 household (HH) heads in six ASAL counties of Kenya were identified using probability and non-probability sampling techniques, and pretested structured questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussions administered to them. There are at least seven different water sources, with 49.42 ± 0.36 minutes being the mean walk time for a round trip of water, limiting water access to 17.02 ± 0.17 litres per capita per day (lcd). These statistics have had a result that only 33% of HHs in Kenya's ASALS have attained the millennium development goal number 7c (MDG7c) on improved water, rendering its achievement by 2015 a myth. As a result, household water use and time taken on a trip for water shows a negative but significant relationship.