DOI: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20261203.13 ISSN: 2575-1832

Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Sustained Access to Domestic Water from a Community Managed Water Supply in Nakuru County, Kenya

Joel Njoroge, Daniel Nzengya
Show PDF Cite
Access to safe and reliable domestic water remains a cornerstone of sustainable development. In Kenya and across sub-Saharan Africa, community-managed water services (CMWS) provide an indispensable source of domestic water for millions of households. This study assessed household factors associated with sustained access to CMWS in Nakuru County, Kenya. The study adopted a mixed-methods cross-sectional design, drawing on quantitative data from 130 households across 10 CMWS in Gilgil and Njoro sub-counties, complemented by six focus group discussions with 10 participants each. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were applied to examine associations between household characteristics and sustained access. Findings showed that 61.5% of households reported sustained access, while 38.5% experienced unsustainable access. Education emerged as a significant determinant (p = 0.006): households headed by individuals with secondary education were more than twice likely to sustain access (OR = 2.23, p < 0.05) compared to those with no schooling. Income sources also mattered (p = 0.002). Farming households were less likely to sustain access (OR = 0.37, p < 0.01), while daily laborers and non-government employees reported higher sustainability. Marital status was significantly associated with sustained access (p = 0.005): 60.8% of married households maintained service continuity, widowed households reported the highest level of unsustainability (12.3%). Household proximity and service availability further shaped outcomes. Households near water points reported higher sustainability (57.5%) compared to those farther away (42.5%). Service availability was the strongest determinant (p = 0.001): households with consistently available water were ten times more likely to sustain access (OR = 10.21, p < 0.001). Cost of service showed weaker associations, suggesting that reliability outweighed affordability in shaping household engagement. Age was negatively associated with sustainability (OR = 0.50, p < 0.01), indicating older household heads were less likely to perceive water services as sustainable. The study concludes that sustained access to CMWS is mediated by education, livelihood strategies, marital stability, service availability, and governance confidence. Policy recommendations include equity-sensitive tariffs, governance transparency, and professionalized backstopping for community systems. Addressing vulnerabilities among widowed and farming households is essential to achieving universal and equitable water access in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6.

More from our Archive