Poverty and living standards in Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kenya: official figures
53.0% of people in Elgeyo-Marakwet lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 258,000 people; joint 11th 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 Elgeyo-Marakwet cannot afford enough food?
36.9% of Elgeyo-Marakwet's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 13.5% 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 Elgeyo-Marakwet live in poverty?
Child poverty is higher: 55.8% of children under 18 in Elgeyo-Marakwet lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Elgeyo-Marakwet go hungry?
5.7% of households in Elgeyo-Marakwet said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 2nd lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 16.1% 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 Elgeyo-Marakwet have clean water and toilets?
64.2% of people in Elgeyo-Marakwet had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 23rd lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 28.8% 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 Elgeyo-Marakwet cook with?
4.3% of people in Elgeyo-Marakwet lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 10th 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 Elgeyo-Marakwet compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Elgeyo-Marakwet ranks 12 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Kitui | 58.3% |
| 10 | Isiolo | 55.6% |
| 11 | Kilifi | 53.0% |
| 12 | Elgeyo-Marakwet | 53.0% |
| 13 | Busia | 52.7% |
| 14 | Kwale | 51.1% |
| 15 | Bungoma | 49.2% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Elgeyo-Marakwet ranks 25 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Machakos | 68.1% |
| 23 | Kilifi | 66.2% |
| 24 | Lamu | 65.9% |
| 25 | Elgeyo-Marakwet | 64.2% |
| 26 | Kericho | 62.5% |
| 27 | Tharaka-Nithi | 61.1% |
| 28 | Homa Bay | 57.2% |
More on Elgeyo-Marakwet: 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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