Mandera County, Kenya| In a profoundly moving scene that has captured hearts across northern Kenya, Lafey Member of Parliament Mohamed Abdikheir broke down in tears yesterday while leading hundreds of his constituents in Salatul Istisqa – the special Islamic prayer for rain performed in times of severe drought.
The open-air congregation, held on the dusty outskirts of Lafey town in Mandera County, brought together men, women, elders, youth, and even young children – all dressed in their finest attire despite the harsh arid conditions – to collectively beseech Allah (SWT) for relief from a prolonged and devastating dry spell that has pushed the pastoralist community to the brink.
A Leader’s Raw Emotion Touches the Entire Community
As the imam for the special prayer, MP Abdikheir stood before the rows of worshippers under the scorching sun.
Eyewitnesses described how his voice began to tremble when he raised his hands in supplication, pleading for mercy on behalf of families without water, children weakened by hunger, and herders who have lost dozens of livestock to the unrelenting drought.
“His tears were not political theatre – they were the tears of a son of this soil who knows every pain we are going through,” said Halima Ahmed, a mother of six who attended the prayer. “When we saw our MP crying like that, many of us cried with him. It showed he is truly one of us.”
The emotional peak came during the khutba (sermon) and the prolonged du’a that followed the two-rak’ah prayer, where the MP’s voice cracked repeatedly as he recounted the suffering of his people.
Several residents captured the moment on their phones, and short video clips circulating on social media have already moved thousands across Kenya and the wider Muslim world.
Divine Mercy: Heavy Rains Arrive Just Hours Later
In what many residents are openly describing as a miraculous response to the community’s collective plea, heavy rainfall began falling across large parts of Lafey Constituency early this morning – barely 12 hours after the conclusion of Salatul Istisqa.
Dark clouds gathered rapidly overnight, followed by thunder and a sustained downpour that turned dry riverbeds into flowing streams and filled countless earthen dams and pans.
Children were seen dancing in the rain, while elders prostrated in gratitude on the wet ground.
“This is the mercy we begged for yesterday,” said Sheikh Abdirahman Hassan, one of the religious leaders who co-led the prayer. “Allah (SWT) does not turn away the tears and sincere du’a of His servants, especially when a whole community raises its hands together.”
Meteorologists had earlier forecasted only isolated light showers for the region, making the intensity and timing of the rainfall even more remarkable to local residents.
Ongoing Challenges and Continued Prayers
While the rains have brought immediate relief and jubilation, community leaders caution that one good downpour does not end the drought cycle that has plagued north-eastern Kenya for successive seasons.
Water catchment systems remain underdeveloped, and livestock losses have been substantial.
MP Abdikheir, speaking briefly to journalists amid the celebrations, thanked Allah for the blessing and renewed his appeal for both sustained seasonal rains and long-term government investment in water infrastructure for the arid region.
“We give infinite praise to Allah for answering our prayers so swiftly,” the MP said, his eyes still red from the earlier emotional moment. “But we will continue performing Salatul Istisqa and other good deeds until the entire region receives beneficial, consistent rainfall that restores our pastures and fills our reservoirs.”
As Lafey Constituency rejoices in this moment of divine intervention, the images of a tearful leader and a hopeful community united in faith continue to spread widely online under hashtags such as #LafeyRainMiracle, #SalatulIstisqa, and #ManderaRains – serving as a powerful reminder of the enduring role of faith in Kenya’s marginalized pastoralist communities during times of climate hardship.
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