Socioeconomic determinants of water delivery satisfaction in a medium sub-Saharan Africa city: A case of Kisumu, Kenya

Abstract

Abstract The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (Resolution 300) recognizes accessibility to water services as a legal entitlement rather than commodities provided on a charitable basis. However, in Kenya, only 60% of the urban population use safely managed drinking water. This low accessibility of potable water can be linked to socioeconomic disparities among urban dwellers. This article examines how household socioeconomic factors influence water delivery satisfaction in Kisumu city, Kenya. The article is based on a descriptive research design where 384 households were surveyed and ordinal regression was used in data analysis. Water delivery in Kisumu city is characterized by duality where the formal city is supplied by conventional delivery, while the informal settlements are through a pro-poor model. The results of ordinal logistic regression show that significantly (p < 0.01) water affordability is determined by household income (β = 2.10 ∗ 10−5), water accessibility is determined by tenancy (β = 0.483) and household income (β = 2.90 ∗ 10−5), while water reliability is influenced by household income (β = 1.35 ∗ 10−5). Water quality is significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the level of education (β = 0.260). Gender does not have significant influence on water delivery satisfaction, but the socioeconomic variables are significant predictors of water service delivery in Kisumu city. Therefore, socioeconomic factors should be considered by water utility agencies during water service delivery in the city.