As Africa marks the Day of the African Child under the theme “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa,” we are reminded that access to water is far more than just quenching thirst. It is about survival, dignity, learning, protection, and opportunity. For children growing up in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) such as Isiolo County, access to water is often the difference between thriving and merely surviving. Yet the conversation on Early Childhood Development (ECD) rarely begins with water and sometimes ends without mentioning it. We speak about opportunities for early learning, adequate nutrition, good health, and child safety and security as detached needs. Yet water sits at the heart of each of these aspects. A child cannot enjoy good health without safe drinking water. A child cannot achieve optimal nutritional status if recurring diarrheal illnesses prevent the absorption of nutrients. A child cannot fully participate in learning when schools and ECD centers lack adequate sanitation facilities. And caregivers cannot provide responsive care when significant portions of their day are spent searching for water.
The Situation in Isiolo County
Recent baseline findings from the ECD Data Visualization Platform Project, implemented by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), provide important insights into the realities children in Isiolo County face.
The assessment found that only 46 percent of respondents reported collecting data on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) indicators, the lowest among the three counties studied.
At the same time, childhood illnesses—including diarrheal diseases, pneumonia, and malaria—remain significant concerns, with 71 percent of respondents tracking these illnesses. Nutrition indicators are also prominent, with 68 percent monitoring child growth and nutrition outcomes, while a similar proportion track malnutrition indicators such as stunting and underweight.
Linking Water Scarcity to Child Health and Nutrition
These figures tell a compelling story. In Isiolo, child health and nutrition challenges cannot be separated from the realities of water scarcity.
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Families frequently contend with long distances to water sources, recurring droughts, and climate-related shocks that strain already fragile systems. When water is scarce, hygiene practices become difficult to maintain. Handwashing, food preparation, sanitation, and childcare are compromised, increasing children’s exposure to disease.
The Data Challenge
The baseline assessment also highlights a broader challenge; while substantial ECD data exists across sectors, information remains fragmented, limiting the ability of county governments to understand how water access affects child development outcomes.
The ECD Data Visualization Platform will bridge this gap by integrating information from health, nutrition, education, child protection, and WASH systems into a single decision-making tool. This will enable county leaders to track ECD performance in real-time, identify underlying vulnerabilities, and allocate resources based on relative need. ,.
A Strategic Opportunity for ASAL Counties
For Isiolo, the centralised ECD Data System presents a unique opportunity. As Kenya continues to invest in climate resilience and sustainable development in ASAL counties, child-centered planning must become a priority.
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Water interventions should not be viewed solely as infrastructure projects. They are investments in children’s health, growth, cognitive development, school readiness, and future productivity, critical for national development.
The Core Message for the Day of the African Child
On this Day of the African Child, the key highlight for Isiolo is: Achieving universal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene is not simply about delivering a service.
It is about creating the conditions necessary for nurturing care. It is about ensuring that every child can grow up healthy, well-nourished, protected, and ready to learn. If we are serious about giving every African child the best start in life, then water must move from the margins of development conversations to the centre of child development policy.
For the children of Isiolo and other ASAL counties, universal access to WASH is not merely an aspiration. It is the foundation upon which every other childhood right is built because when water is inaccessible, nurturing care and thriving become difficult to achieve.
About the Authors
Charity Waweru-Mwangi is a Communications Officer, and Margaret Nampijja is a Research Scientist at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC).
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