Prayer most potent weapon for KDF in Somalia battle

BY VITALIS KIMUTAI in Afmadhow, Somalia

Even as they battle the Al Shabaab in Somalia, the 4,660 Kenyan soldiers remain a very prayerful lot.

Both Muslims and Christians stick to their prayer schedules in the morning, evenings, during and after meals.

They are also given time for Koran and Bible study sessions at their military camps.

Muslims are required by their faith to pray five times a day, but are at times forced to combine the prayer sessions due to the engagements in battle.

Fajr is offered between 5.20 to 6am, Dhuhr 1pm, Asr 4pm, Maghrib 6:20 pm and Isha 8pm.

 “While advancing in the battle field, we postpone to later hours and combine the prayers especially Maghrib and Isha,” Lieutenant Colonel Abdirahaman Mohamed said.

 “Being in the battle field instils the fear of God in a soldier,” he told The Standard at the military camp in Afmadhow.

Mohamed said the morning and evening prayer sessions also serve as a time for guidance and counselling for the officers facing tough challenges, away from their families.

Muslims talk to their Imam whenever they have stress.

“We are fighting a group that is using religion to propagate terror activities,” Corporal Abdulahi Ibrahim said.

Warrant Officer (II) Omar Swalleh said that in war or not, prayer for Muslims is not negotiable.  Soldiers said the sessions have boosted their morale.

GREAT HOPE

For lack of mosques, they even pray under trees.

“It has not been easy liberating the towns from the hands of militia groups. But our happiness is when we encounter jubilant residents who have been freed from the yoke of Al Shabaab,” Abdulahi said.

A Catholic priest, Fr Major George Makau, is thankful to God for the care and protection of the soldiers serving in Somalia.

“Men all over the world require the services of a chaplain during war more than in peace time,” Fr Makau said.

Makau said that one time, Somalia will be a peaceful country, and Somali people need to be in peace with themselves.

He said that Christians offer their prayers in the morning and in the evening and also during and after meals in accordance with their doctrines.

The prayer sessions are done at the camp before the soldiers leave for battle and before they rest in the evening.

Makau also conducts counselling sessions for the soldiers in the battlefield, which has helped them focus on their job.

“Some of them become homesick in the process and we give them a chance to get in touch with their families through mobile phones,” Makau said.

“We have not come here to propagate religion but to liberate the various towns from the hands of Al Shabaab,” Lieutenant Jeff Nyagah, the Commanding Officer first battle group told The Standard.

Nyagah said KDF soldiers were well received in the various regions they had liberated in Somalia and locals were supportive.

Warrant Officer (II) K Kiptum and Corporal K Kipkoech said the soldiers require prayer due to the challenges they face.

“Being away from home and their families the soldiers pray not only for themselves, but also for their wives and children back in Kenya. We are committed to prayer sessions,” Kiptum said.