Mwalimu Abduba Dida: From Teacher and Politician to Prisoner in the U.S.
Mohammed Abduba Dida’s family has asked the Kenyan government to get involved in his U.S. court case, in which he is serving a seven-year term. In 2021, the court found Dida guilty of breaching a restraining order and stalking and menacing his estranged American wife.
Unaware that his visit to a prayer center close to his wife’s house violated U.S. law, Dida unintentionally broke the restraining order, according to his relatives. They clarified that, unaware that his wife also attended the same location, he had gone to pray at a nearby mosque.
The family is praying for him and has begun to arrange a trip to the United States in search of legal advice.
Call to Government Action
In a news briefing, Dida’s relatives emphasized that the intervention of President William Ruto’s government offers their last hope.
They revealed intentions for visiting Dida in prison and that his punishment was too severe for what they considered a family conflict that might have been settled amicably.
Once a well-known player in Kenyan politics, Dida’s seven-year sentence now includes separate terms for stalking and violating the restraining order.
Renowned for his audacious approach during the 2013 elections, Dida lost public favor following two abortive presidential runs. Still, his legal problems in the United States have drawn attention once more.
Court Appeals and Decisions
Following his imprisonment, Dida lodged complaints regarding inadequate medical care and the denial of prison access to educational programs. An inquiry resulted from these allegations, but the court finally rejected them, ruling they lacked legal support.
Dida’s background
Born in Wajir in 1975, Dida worked as a teacher until moving into business in 2009. Under the Alliance for Real Change (ARC) party, running an anti-corruption campaign.
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Despite being a late arrival, he outperformed well-known names like Martha Karua. With 38,093 votes, Dida’s second effort in 2017 represents 0.25% of all the votes cast.
Mwalimu Abduba Dida: From Teacher and Politician to Prisoner in the U.S.