Former Presidential Candidate Mwalimu Dida Jailed for 7 Years in US Prison
Key takeaways
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- Kenyans are reeling in shock after it emerged that a famous teacher from Wajir and former presidential candidate has been imprisoned in the United States.
- Mohamed Abduba Dida popular as Mwalimu Dida has circulated in different prisons within Illinois State in the US since 2022.
- Dida was found guilty of stalking, aggravated stalking, and violation of a legal restraining order against a victim who remains unknown.
- The famous teacher vied in the 2013 Kenyan general election on an Alliance of Real Change party ticket.
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Mohamed Dida’s legal troubles in the United States
Details are emerging rapidly as Kenyans try to understand the circumstances that led to Mwalimu Dida’s imprisonment, despite his strong credentials as a presidential candidate.
During his 2013 presidential campaign and debate, Mwalimu Dida spoke passionately about corruption and the importance of integrity in leadership.
Reports out of the United States indicate that the former presidential candidate has been jailed after being found guilty of stalking and threatening his victim.
American authorities arrested and charged Mr. Dida with 2 separate counts which attracted a cumulative jail sentence of 7 years, which he has served since 2022.
It has been established through his sentencing information that Dida’s first offense was stalking and issuing threats to an identified victim.
Dida was slapped with a 2-year jail term for this offense in a matter processed in McLean County in Illinois, USA.
The second offense was a more serious one, identified as aggravated stalking and violation of an active restraining order. This attracted a 5-year imprisonment, taking the total sentence to 7 years.
Dida’s projected parole is set for March 2025.
Abduba Dida decries abuse and violation of religious freedom in his US jail tour
Since 2022, the two-time Kenyan presidential aspirant has been locked up in various facilities, commonly referred to as correctional centers in the US.
Mr. Dida was first held at the East Moline Correctional Center before he was moved to several other prisons within America’s Illinois State.
Mwalimu Dida has repeatedly lodged complaints with judicial authorities regarding the denial of his basic rights by prison management.
Being a Muslim, Dida alleged that his rights to pray were considerably limited by prison officers who only allowed him to pray on Fridays.
Dida was also made to pray inside the East Moline Correctional Center Church despite him professing Islam.
He was granted additional opportunities to pray while at the South Western Correctional Center. A diplomatic negotiation with the facility resulted in him receiving a private room for his prayers.
Dida’s story undermines a presidential candidacy that had inspired Kenyans to believe the country could eliminate the integrity problem in leadership.
Some have taken to social media to react to the news, with many expressing shock and disappointment.
“Mwalimu Abduba Dida is in jail for stalking? He was a whole Ustadh what happened to him?” Wrote @fuwadii
“Kumbe Mwalimu Dida has been in jail since! Who has been engaging us here on his account (ama he hasn’t been tweeting)?” asked @Wordslinger__
