A study by travel company Globehunters identifies Kenya among 187 nations where tap water is classified as unsafe or unpalatable for visitors, according to Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
The firm's infographic uses a color-coded map and destination list to distinguish high-risk regions from safer areas. Developed countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, and the U.S. appear in the low-risk category, while Africa, Asia, and Central America face higher contamination concerns.
While the classification does not always indicate polluted water, health experts warn that foreign pathogens in local water supplies can cause illness. The World Health Organisation reports 842,000 annual deaths from diarrheal diseases linked to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene practices.
UN Water notes that 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, forcing reliance on surface water, unprotected wells, or unverified vendors. This situation disproportionately affects poor households in sub-Saharan Africa, where waterborne diseases consume over 30% of income.
