Poverty and living standards in Bomet, Kenya: official figures
47.1% of people in Bomet lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 441,000 people; 18th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 39.8%, 20.16 million people). The line is the cost of basic food and non-food needs per adult per month.
How many people in Bomet cannot afford enough food?
38.1% of Bomet's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 8.2% were in hardcore poverty, unable to afford it even if they spent everything on food (Kenya: 31.7% and 7.1%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many children in Bomet live in poverty?
Child poverty is higher: 47.4% of children under 18 in Bomet lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Bomet?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 28.2 in Bomet in 2022, against 23.8 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Bomet go hungry?
23.0% of households in Bomet said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, joint 15th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 30.1% received a cash transfer or social assistance (Kenya: 16.8%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyDo people in Bomet have clean water and toilets?
73.5% of people in Bomet had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 12th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 76.6% had at least a basic toilet not shared with other households (Kenya: 40.9%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyWhat do households in Bomet cook with?
4.6% of people in Bomet lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 11th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 23.8%); most others cook with wood or charcoal.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyHow Bomet compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Bomet ranks 18 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Bungoma | 49.2% |
| 16 | Vihiga | 47.9% |
| 17 | Kericho | 47.8% |
| 18 | Bomet | 47.1% |
| 19 | Baringo | 46.9% |
| 20 | Migori | 45.7% |
| 21 | Makueni | 44.7% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Bomet ranks 12 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Kakamega | 74.4% |
| 10 | Kajiado | 73.8% |
| 11 | Meru | 73.7% |
| 12 | Bomet | 73.5% |
| 13 | Embu | 73.0% |
| 14 | Nakuru | 72.6% |
| 15 | Trans Nzoia | 72.2% |
More on Bomet: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · Kenya
Sources
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF): Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022, Volume 1: county tables (C tables), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 202dd70451a0…)
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: The Kenya Poverty Report 2022 (2022 Kenya Continuous Household Survey): Tables 3.2 and 4.6, Annex Tables A1, B1, C1 and E.2, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3298f81209a…)
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