Assessment of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) knowledge, attitudes and practices in water stressed Kenyan semi-arid landscape

Abstract

Residents of Kenya’s semi-arid Narok West subcounty have low access to safe potable water and sanitation, resulting in waterborne diseases (WBD) morbidity and poor sanitation. A survey of 155 households in the subcounty revealed critical insights into water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practiced in a semi-arid region. Using stratified random sampling and statistical analysis, our study revealed that most respondents (92.6%) lack access to public piped water with 35.5% consuming non-potable water. Majority of the surface water sources are unprotected, with rivers being the primarily water source. Water source seasonality and WBD prevalence varied significantly by subcounty wards (p=<0.05). While 64.5% of households treated water, WBD prevalence remained high at 37.4% three months prior to this study. Sanitation access showed 70% of households used improved facilities, while 30% practiced open defecation. Neither gender nor age significantly influenced sanitation facility use. These findings highlight contemporary challenges in achieving UN SDG 6 targets for clean water and sanitation in rural Kenya. We recommend enhancing water conservation to maintain ecological integrity amid climate change and promotion of Community-Led Total Sanitation through awareness campaigns, education, and social marketing. Integrating local indigenous knowledge into water management and conducting regular physiochemical and microbial assessments of surface wetlands are also critical to improving WASH outcomes and reducing WBD morbidity in Narok West.