Kenya's Arid Lands Face Persistent Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Challenges

Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties continue to struggle with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues linked to drought, flooding, and displacement. Despite temporary improvements in water availability during the March-May 2026 long rains, many areas still rely on seasonal sources and face infrastructure constraints. In refugee settings, funding cuts and fuel shortages have affected water services, with some households receiving below the recommended minimum water quantities. A recent Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment (MSNA) highlights widespread WASH needs, with 66% of host and affected households and 89% of refugee households requiring assistance. High use of improved water sources does not necessarily translate into sufficient and reliable water access, with household water insecurity particularly high in Kalobeyei (89%) and Kakuma (86%). Sanitation gaps vary between host/affected communities and refugee settings, with open lack of sanitation facilities prevalent in Turkana (57%) and reliance on unimproved sanitation facilities a concern in Dadaab (34%). Limited access to functional hand-washing facilities remains a major hygiene concern across assessed locations.