In Kibera, Africa’s largest slum located near Nairobi, Kenya, women and girls face systematic sexual harassment and coercion while attempting to purchase water from private vendors. The informal settlement lacks reliable access to piped water infrastructure, forcing residents to buy water by the jerrycan from vendors who control supply and pricing. According to accounts from residents and advocacy organizations, this system has created conditions in which impoverished women are pressured to provide sex in exchange for water—a practice termed “sextortion.”
Two residents, Saly Amutwayi and Mariam Hassan, describe incidents of attempted sexual assault when they could not afford full payment or were vulnerable during their search for water. Both say they did not report their experiences to police, citing fear of retaliation, social stigma, and belief that authorities would not intervene. The Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Network operates a program called Stop Sex for Water, launched in 2014, which documents abuse and supports survivors. Staff members report receiving frequent reports of sexual harassment, attempted rape, and coercion related to water collection, with the problem intensifying during droughts when supply becomes scarcer.
Parliamentary action on the issue occurred in 2024, marking the first time lawmakers addressed the matter formally. However, in October 2025, a parliamentary committee rejected a petition to create a specific law against sextortion, determining that existing sexual offense legislation covered the conduct. Advocates counter that current law cannot be applied to informal vendors without official authority. They are pressing Parliament to reconsider, while noting that legislation alone would be insufficient without police training, court investment, and improved water infrastructure.
The situation reflects broader water scarcity affecting approximately 19 million Kenyans. Water cartels operating throughout Kibera tap into municipal pipes and distribute water through informal networks. These groups exercise significant power, including handling disputes independently from police, who according to a 2025 national survey are ranked as the country’s most corrupt institution. Transgender residents report facing additional discrimination and heightened barriers to accessing water and sanitation services, sometimes being refused service entirely and experiencing physical violence.
Advocates emphasize that addressing sextortion requires systemic change beyond legislation, including investment in reliable public water systems that would reduce dependence on informal vendors and the power dynamics that enable exploitation.
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