Poverty and living standards in Machakos, Kenya: official figures
38.3% of people in Machakos lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 580,000 people; joint 20th 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 Machakos cannot afford enough food?
31.8% of Machakos' residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 2.2% 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 Machakos live in poverty?
Child poverty is higher: 38.9% of children under 18 in Machakos lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Machakos?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 30.1 in Machakos in 2022, against 35.3 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Machakos go hungry?
13.1% of households in Machakos said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 4th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 20.5% 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 Machakos have clean water and toilets?
68.1% of people in Machakos had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 22nd highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 61.4% 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 Machakos cook with?
31.5% of people in Machakos lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 5th 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 Machakos compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Machakos ranks 27 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Nandi | 39.1% |
| 25 | Kisumu | 39.0% |
| 26 | Nyamira | 38.8% |
| 27 | Machakos | 38.3% |
| 28 | Siaya | 38.3% |
| 29 | Nakuru | 38.2% |
| 30 | Kakamega | 38.2% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Machakos ranks 22 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Bungoma | 70.0% |
| 20 | Laikipia | 69.7% |
| 21 | Taita-Taveta | 68.3% |
| 22 | Machakos | 68.1% |
| 23 | Kilifi | 66.2% |
| 24 | Lamu | 65.9% |
| 25 | Elgeyo-Marakwet | 64.2% |
More on Machakos: 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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