• The participants prayed for rain and an end to the drought, after many years of failed rainy season.
• The prolonged dry spell has prompted leaders, clerics and locals to seek divine intervention.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
Thousand of Marsabit Muslim faithful on Saturday congregated at Muslim Agency ground and held a special prayers for rain as drought continue to bite the region.
During the special prayers referred to as Salatul Istisqa, the faithful sought intervention from Allah for favour.
The participants prayed for rain and an end to the drought, after many years of failed rainy season.
The prolonged dry spell has prompted leaders, clerics and locals to seek divine intervention.
"We have to turn back to our creator for his intercession at a time like this. We are suffering as a results of failed season and severe drought ravaging the county," said sheikh Mohammed Galgallo
The faithful bowed and prostrated themselves before God, stood up and raised their hands to heaven and prayed out loud for rain.
"Oh Allah give us the rain, the rain that will bring benefit to us and not the one that will harm us."
Religious leaders led by Sheikh Mohammed Galgallo, said they had sought for Allah's intervention to open the cloud and shower the region with his blessing.
"The drought has affected both the people and their livestock. As we speak, many pastoralists lost their livestock and we are fearing for human lives," he said
"It is for this reason that we have decided to go back to Allah and perform this special prayers."
He urged faithful to continue praying to God for rain noting that it is only almighty Allah who can save lives.
" What we can do is to pray to Almighty Allah to shower us with his blessings. The drought we are experiencing is one of the worst we ever experienced and its effects already felt across the county," said sheikh Mohammed
He said the county failed to received rain in four consecutive season and the remaining pastures have depleted and water levels keeping on decreasing due to growing demand.
He urged Muslim leaders in the sub county to conduct special prayers.
Marsabit cleric Sheikh Omar urged the rich to assist less fortunate people in the county, asking the faithful to continue praying.
"In the situation like the one we are facing, Muslim usually gather to pray for rain and Allah's mercy," he said
He said the current drought situation in the county needed urgent solution such as prayer.
"With faith in God and servant prayers, everything in the sight of God is possible. There will be no problem especially those that were as a result of human error," he added
" If we are serious about getting solution to our problem, we need to turn from our wicked ways."
The cleric attributed the current situation to high level of sins and unrighteousness.
He said such special prayers was performed by prophet Muhammad during times of drought, reciting some of the traditional supplication.
"Oh Allah give us a saving rain, good and productive, beneficial and not harmful."
He added that Muslims can make recourse to Almighty Allah with supplication at times when the descent of the beneficial rain is delayed.
According to sheikh Guyo Gosa, the drought is caused by increase in sins and too much bloodshed where innocent lives lost and asked the residents to repeat, saying God is not happy in our action.
He urged the clerics to lead the faithful in backing to Allah.
He asked Muslims to be upright, honest and dedicate themselves to worshipping of Allah in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
The faithful also prayed for peaceful coexistence among the people for sustainable social and economic development.
According to NDMA, more than half of county's population is in dire needs of humanitarian support due to prolonged drought, with meteorological department said there will be suppressed rain in October - December short rain.