By Collins Muna, Mentee, Lamu County
For years, the residents of the Kashmir-Kandhari villages lived in a state of quiet frustration. Every rainy season brought the same cycle: impassable roads, stagnant water, and the constant fear of health hazards. For the community, the silence from their local leadership specifically their Member of County Assembly (MCA) felt deafening, especially given that the affected area falls within the MCA’s own residential backyard.
However, the narrative took a turn in June 2026. Heavy machinery arrived, and construction began on new cabro pavements stretching along the Kashmir-Kandhari route. For a community that had long felt neglected, the sight of the pavers was a welcome, albeit debated, sight.
The project, highlighted on social media, showed MCA Shekhuna Abbas on-site inspecting the progress. Reactions from the community were a mixture of relief and cautious skepticism.
“At least our MCA has stood out to help. We had a very bad state of drainage, which has been affecting our kids going to school and even our daily lives,” commented Juma Ali, a local resident, reacting to a TikTok post of the construction.
Not everyone, however, is convinced that the solution is long-term. Sarah Wanjiku, another community member, expressed concerns regarding the technical approach: “These cabros aren’t durable; they keep breaking after some time. We need proper, robust drainage and structural roads, not just quick fixes.”
The road to this construction was not paved overnight. Sumeiyah, a community champion from the NGO *Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection*, has been a vocal advocate for the infrastructure project for the last year. Her tireless campaign, which spanned from the Polytechnic area to Kandhari village, was often met with resistance.
“For a year, we pleaded for a comprehensive drainage system,” Sumeiyah noted. “We saw only small, superficial renovations that never bore fruit. While this pavement is a start, we must continue to hold leadership accountable to ensure the project actually solves the underlying flooding issues.”
As the work progresses, the Kashmir-Kandhari community remains hopeful, yet watchful. They have waited years for change, and for them, the true test of this construction will be how it stands up to the next torrential downpour.
