Poverty and living standards in Murang'a, Kenya: official figures
30.1% of people in Murang'a lived below the overall poverty line in 2022, about 340,000 people; 9th 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 Murang'a cannot afford enough food?
26.3% of Murang'a's residents were food poor in 2022, unable to afford the minimum daily food energy requirement, and 2.5% 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 Murang'a live in poverty?
Child poverty is lower: 30.1% of children under 18 in Murang'a lived in poor households in 2022 (Kenya: 42.4%).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow unequal is Murang'a?
Inequality in spending, measured by the Gini index, was 28.0 in Murang'a in 2022, against 30.4 in 2015/16 (Kenya: 38.4; 0 means everyone spends the same).
Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyDo families in Murang'a go hungry?
13.5% of households in Murang'a said they had lacked food or money to buy food in the week before the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 6th lowest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 28.8%), and 30.0% 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 Murang'a have clean water and toilets?
80.6% of people in Murang'a had at least basic drinking water (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2022, 5th highest of Kenya's 47 counties (Kenya: 67.9%); 49.5% 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 Murang'a cook with?
16.6% of people in Murang'a lived in homes that mainly cook with clean fuels such as gas or electricity in 2022, 11th 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 Murang'a compares with other counties
People below the overall poverty line (2022)
Murang'a ranks 39 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the overall poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Nyandarua | 34.5% |
| 37 | Meru | 34.1% |
| 38 | Kisii | 32.9% |
| 39 | Murang'a | 30.1% |
| 40 | Homa Bay | 28.2% |
| 41 | Mombasa | 27.0% |
| 42 | Narok | 26.2% |
People with at least basic drinking water (2022)
Murang'a ranks 5 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Kiambu | 94.2% |
| 3 | Nyeri | 90.7% |
| 4 | Nyandarua | 89.5% |
| 5 | Murang'a | 80.6% |
| 6 | Uasin Gishu | 79.0% |
| 7 | Kirinyaga | 76.2% |
| 8 | Vihiga | 75.2% |
More on Murang'a: 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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