Poverty and living standards in Laikipia, Kenya: official figures
38.0% of people in Laikipia lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 208,000 people; 17th lowest 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 Laikipia cannot afford enough food?
30.5% of Laikipia's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 6.2% 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 Laikipia live in poverty?
Child poverty is higher: 39.2% of children under 18 in Laikipia lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Laikipia?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 33.8 in Laikipia in 2022, against 39.2 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Laikipia go hungry?
21.3% of households in Laikipia said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, joint 12th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 15.7% 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 Laikipia have clean water and toilets?
69.7% of people in Laikipia had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 20th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 31.6% had at least a basic toilet not shared with other households (Kenya: 40.9%), and 7.0% had no toilet at all.
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health (with ICF) · saved copyWhat do households in Laikipia cook with?
22.3% of people in Laikipia lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 10th highest 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 Laikipia compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Laikipia ranks 31 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Siaya | 38.3% |
| 29 | Nakuru | 38.2% |
| 30 | Kakamega | 38.2% |
| 31 | Laikipia | 38.0% |
| 32 | Trans Nzoia | 37.3% |
| 33 | Kajiado | 37.3% |
| 34 | Tharaka-Nithi | 36.1% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Laikipia ranks 20 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Kisumu | 71.5% |
| 18 | Garissa | 70.8% |
| 19 | Bungoma | 70.0% |
| 20 | Laikipia | 69.7% |
| 21 | Taita-Taveta | 68.3% |
| 22 | Machakos | 68.1% |
| 23 | Kilifi | 66.2% |
More on Laikipia: 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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