Mohammed Abduba Dida, the former presidential candidate who gained national attention during Kenya’s 2013 elections, is currently serving a seven-year prison term at Big Muddy River Correctional Centre in Illinois.
Dida’s conviction, which occurred in November 2022, stems from serious charges of stalking and intimidating an individual in the United States.
Dida, who first entered the political arena as a relatively unknown figure from Wajir County, captured the public’s imagination during the 2013 presidential race as he ran on the Alliance for Real Change ticket.
His dynamic performances in televised debates earned him a significant following, even as he faced off against political heavyweights like Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.
The convictions that landed him behind bars include two counts; the first involved stalking and transmitting threats, which resulted in a two-year sentence, while a second charge of aggravated stalking and violation of a restraining order added another five years to his term. Dida is scheduled for release on April 3, 2029.
In a recent development, Dida filed a lawsuit claiming that his constitutional rights are being violated while incarcerated.
In court documents dated July 8, 2024, he alleged that he has faced restrictions in accessing educational and vocational programs, alongside being denied necessary medical attention, contributing to a decline in his health.
However, the court dismissed Dida’s claims, indicating a lack of constitutional support for his allegations regarding educational access.
The judge stated, “This case is dismissed with prejudice for failure to state a constitutional claim upon which relief may be granted,” designating the dismissal as one of Dida’s three ‘strikes.’
Despite his current challenges, the former teacher and presidential hopeful remains a notable figure in Kenya’s political landscape, where his candidacy once symbolized a push for change amidst established power structures.
