Former Presidential Candidate Abduba Dida Behind Bars in the US – What Happened?
The tale of Mohamed Abduba Dida, once a vibrant political figure in Kenya, has taken a dramatic and unexpected turn. Dida, the former teacher who rose to national limelight during Kenya’s 2013 presidential race, is currently serving a seven-year sentence in a US prison.
Few could have predicted such a fall from grace for the man who once pledged to lead Kenya with integrity and sincerity.
Dida, who famously positioned himself as an alternative to political heavyweights of Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, is now an inmate at the Big Muddy Correctional Center in Illinois. His conviction stems from charges of stalking and intimidating an unidentified individual in the US. Sentenced on November 18, 2022, Dida’s imprisonment has raised eyebrows both in Kenya and abroad.
Why it matters: Dida, once a symbol of moral integrity and a fresh political voice in Kenya’s presidential race, now faces a sharp fall from grace. His imprisonment in the US reveals the complexity of his personal struggles, contrasting sharply with the idealistic platform he once stood on.
Former presidential hopeful Mohamed Abduba Dida.
Photo
Courtesy
Dig deeper: His legal troubles began in McLean County, Illinois, where he was found guilty of two counts—stalking and transmitting threats, as well as aggravated stalking and violating a restraining order.
These charges resulted in two separate sentences: two years for the first offence and seven years for the second. Dida’s release is tentatively scheduled for April 2029.
What remains unclear is whether Dida had relocated to the US or was merely visiting when the offences occurred.
Back in 2013, Dida shocked the political landscape by entering the race for the presidency under the Alliance for Real Change. Despite being virtually unknown and hailing from Wajir County, his performance in the televised presidential debates won him the admiration of many Kenyans. Dida often portrayed himself as a David-like figure, ready to topple political giants like Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga with sheer conviction and moral strength.
His confidence and fiery rhetoric made him a media sensation, though his presidential bid would ultimately fall short, securing just 54,840 votes—impressive for a newcomer but far from victory.
Four years later, Dida returned to the campaign trail, this time with Titus Ngetuny as his running mate. Once again, he found himself competing against political heavyweights, but this time the charm of his earlier candidacy had somewhat faded. Dida garnered 38,004 votes, finishing behind seasoned politicians but still outperforming notable figures such as Cyrus Jirongo.
Despite his relative success, Dida retreated from the public eye after his second run, leaving many to speculate about his next move. His disappearance from Kenyan politics made the news of him being apprehended and subsequent imprisonment all the more shocking.
While details surrounding the case remain limited, Dida’s involvement in a legal dispute against the warden of Big Muddy Correctional Center sheds some light on his current situation.
In April 2024, Dida filed a petition alleging that his religious rights had been violated while incarcerated. He claimed that he was denied the opportunity to pray in accordance with Islamic practices at both East Moline and South Western Correctional Centers, where he had been held before his transfer to Big Muddy.
According to court documents, Dida alleged that he was allowed to pray only once every Friday in a church and was later transferred to solitary confinement under harsh conditions.
Dida, now serving as a volunteer Imam at Big Muddy, continues to battle for his religious freedoms.
Former Presidential candidate Mohamed Abduba Dida presenting his presidential bid to former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati at headquarters in Nairobi.
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IEBC
