Poverty and living standards in Makueni, Kenya: official figures
44.7% of people in Makueni lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 469,000 people; 21st 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 Makueni cannot afford enough food?
33.2% of Makueni's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 5.9% 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 Makueni live in poverty?
Child poverty is lower: 44.3% of children under 18 in Makueni lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Makueni?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 26.5 in Makueni in 2022, against 31.4 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Makueni go hungry?
22.5% of households in Makueni said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 14th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 17.4% 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 Makueni have clean water and toilets?
46.0% of people in Makueni had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 8th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 45.7% 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 Makueni cook with?
8.0% of people in Makueni lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 22nd 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 Makueni compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Makueni ranks 21 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Bomet | 47.1% |
| 19 | Baringo | 46.9% |
| 20 | Migori | 45.7% |
| 21 | Makueni | 44.7% |
| 22 | Uasin Gishu | 39.9% |
| 23 | Taita-Taveta | 39.3% |
| 24 | Nandi | 39.1% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Makueni ranks 40 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Narok | 48.2% |
| 38 | Kwale | 46.7% |
| 39 | Nandi | 46.2% |
| 40 | Makueni | 46.0% |
| 41 | Kisii | 44.4% |
| 42 | Turkana | 41.7% |
| 43 | Marsabit | 41.3% |
More on Makueni: 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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