By Hibo Mohammed – KANERE Staff Writer May, 2020
The Muslim community of Kakuma is made up of various nationalities majority coming from Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Congo, Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi. Muslims in Kakuma adhere to fasting during Ramadan. For breaking the fast (iftar), fresh fruits are available all around the markets. Residents purchase them in larger quantities to make juice. However, due to covid-19, social and religious gatherings are banned across the country.
Families in the camp are practicing prayers at home. Ibrahim from Burundi says, “I pray together with my family at home. We wish that Coronavirus ends, and life gets back to normal.”
The Islam community in Kakuma express their grief of not being able to pray the Taraweh prayer, which is an additional ritual performed by Muslims at night during the holy month of Ramadan. It usually takes place in mosques an hour of breaking the fast.
As Hussein from Sudan explains, “Taraweh is prayed in a congregation. It cannot be done at home or at mosques with this ongoing pandemic.”
Each shop in Kakuma is armed with soap and water at the entrance for hand washing practice of their customers. Some shops are now selling face masks, which presents a business opportunity to some within the camp, with prices range from shilling 50 to 100 per mask.
A religious leader from Kakuma 2 explains, “It doesn’t feel the same with the closure of religious institutions. It’s really a tough time and a great burden to all Muslims in the world.”
Kakuma is known for its harsh scorching sun, but since the start of Ramadan the weather has been more moderate, with some rain and cool temperatures at night. Rahma from Somalia believes that these beautiful weather as a sign of mercy and blessings from the Almighty.