Residents and advocacy groups in Nairobi's Kibera settlement report that women seeking clean water frequently face sexual harassment, assault, and coercion. Because the informal settlement lacks government-piped water infrastructure, residents rely on private vendors who set prices and control access. According to the Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Network (KEWASNET), some vendors demand sexual favors from women who cannot afford to pay, a practice the group labels "sextortion."
Advocates state that the risk of violence increases during droughts and water shortages when prices rise and queues grow longer. Survivors reported incidents of attempted assault at water kiosks and being lured into dangerous situations under the pretense of finding shorter lines. Many incidents go unreported to local authorities due to social stigma or the belief that legal recourse is unavailable, according to community members interviewed by reporters.
After a decade of campaigning by water-sector advocacy groups, the Kenyan Parliament formally addressed the issue of water-related gender-based violence for the first time in 2024. While the Kenyan Constitution guarantees a right to clean and safe water, infrastructure gaps remain in densely populated informal settlements. Lawmakers are currently reviewing the role of private vendors and the lack of formal oversight in these areas to address the reported abuses.