Mandera residents hold special prayers for rain as drought bites
The gathering drew hundreds of residents. Businesses remained closed in the morning hours, and learning was suspended in schools to allow the community to participate in the prayer session.
Mandera County residents gathered today at the Jamia Mosque grounds to hold special prayers for rain as the region continues to face a prolonged drought.
The prayer, known as Salat al-Istisqa, is a non-obligatory Islamic prayer performed to seek rain during times of drought, recognising the power of Allah to bring relief.
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The gathering drew hundreds of residents. Businesses remained closed in the morning hours, and learning was suspended in schools to allow the community to participate in the prayer session.
Sheikh Mohamud Pilipili, the vice chair of Mandera Islamic Scholars, led the prayers. In his sermon, he called on residents to seek forgiveness from Allah.
“It is us who need Allah. We should seek His forgiveness. Rebellion and other forms of disobedience to the Creator have increased,” said Sheikh Mohamud.
Hundreds of Mandera residents gathered today at the Jamia Mosque grounds to pray for rain. (Abdirahman Khalif)
Imam of Jamia Mosque, Sheikh Hassan Mohamed, urged the people of Mandera to remain united and address social issues as a community.
“We all know what is happening in Mandera. We should unite and fight every evil together as one,” said Sheikh Mohamed.
The call for divine intervention comes as temperatures in the region continue to rise, with recent months recording highs above 40 degrees Celsius. The harsh weather has made life difficult for many, especially with the ongoing power outages that have lasted five months.
Residents say the lack of electricity has worsened the impact of the drought. They are unable to cool their homes or access cold drinking water. Fans and air conditioners are non-functional, and many households are forced to go without any form of cooling.
During Ramadan, some residents crossed the border into Bula Hawa in neighbouring Somalia to buy ice to cool their drinks. The situation remained dire, as communication was also affected.
The power crisis had sparked frustration, with residents taking to the streets to demand action.
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