Water insecurity, housing tenure, and the role of informal water services in Nairobi’s slum settlements

•Tenants had higher water insecurity levels than homeowners in the slum settlements.•Tenants primarily used informal water services as opposed to homeowners who had better access to formal water services.•Water and housing insecurity are linked: access to the type of water services was associated with housing tenure status.•Improving housing tenure and elevating rates of home ownership may help in alleviating water insecurity among slum households.