Weight of water: The Psycho-Emotional impacts on laboring bodies in Kenya

Background Informal water vendors play an important role in bridging water service gaps in low-income urban areas where public water networks are inadequate or unreliable. However, limited access to potable water can create significant physical, economic, and psycho-emotional pressures for vendors who collect and sell water to households. While previous research has documented mental health consequences of household water insecurity, less is known about how water vendors experience and make sense of psycho-emotional stress associated with water insecurity as a work-related stressor. This study examines the relationship between water insecurity and psycho-emotional well-being among informal water vendors in Kisumu, Kenya. Methods We used a qualitative design based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 35 informal water vendors in Kisumu, Kenya. Interviews explored vendors’ experiences of water insecurity, work-related stress, emotional well-being, and coping strategies. Data were analyzed thematically. Results Water scarcity and limited access to potable water were major sources of stress for vendors. Participants described fear of water contamination, worry about changing water prices, discomfort, anxiety, and uncertainty associated with meeting household demand. These experiences demonstrate that water insecurity affects vendors not only economically and physically but also psycho-emotionally. Conclusion Water insecurity has important psycho-emotional consequences for informal water vendors whose labor helps sustain water access in underserved urban communities. Water governance and public health interventions should therefore address both reliable access to safe water and the working conditions and well-being of informal water vendors.