Seme Cut Off: Flooded Mboha Bridge Leaves Residents Stranded Amid Empty Promises

Kenya, 4 May 2026 - In Seme Village (Seme Kopudo), a familiar crossing at Mboha Bridge has once again turned into a barrier of water rather than a passage of connection, after seasonal flooding cut off movement between two sides of the community and exposed deep frustrations over rural infrastructure.

For residents, the disruption is no longer an occasional inconvenience but a recurring ordeal that shapes daily life. With the bridge submerged, people are forced to remove shoes or sandals and wade through water to reach schools, markets, farms, and essential services. What should be a short walk has become slow, uncertain, and often unsafe.

Among those most affected is resident Oyoo Baga, who voiced concern over the growing strain on families. “Every day we cross this water because we have no choice,” he said. “Children go to school wet, traders lose time, and sometimes goods are damaged. We feel forgotten because this problem returns every rainy season without a lasting solution.”

Another resident, Odhiambo There, described the situation as both exhausting and economically damaging. “This bridge has become a barrier instead of a link,” he said. “We are tired of removing shoes just to cross. When the water rises, everything stops—business, school, even emergencies become difficult. We need real action, not temporary talk.”

The impact ripples beyond individual inconvenience. Traders report reduced activity, farmers struggle to move produce, and parents worry about children arriving late or exposed to health risks. The flooding has effectively split the village, slowing economic activity and deepening long-standing concerns over drainage and planning.