Prayer most potent
weapon for KDF in Somalia battle

Friday, June 22, 2012
BY VITALIS KIMUTAI

KDF troops pray at Afmadhow, Somalia. [PHOTO:
GEORGE MULALA/STANDARD]
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.