Two-time Kenyan presidential candidate Mwalimu Mohammed Abduba Dida is now a free man after serving nearly three years of a seven-year sentence at the Big Muddy Correctional Facility in Illinois, United States.
Dida was released on March 3, 2025, after being granted parole, allowing him to complete the remainder of his sentence outside prison, under strict community supervision. His initial release date had been scheduled for April 3, 2029.
Parole allows an inmate to re-enter society under conditions and supervision, often linked to community service or rehabilitation programs. According to prison officials, Dida will engage in philanthropic work in the U.S. for the duration of his parole.
The former Alliance High School teacher and 2013 presidential hopeful was convicted in November 2022 for violating a restraining order involving his American wife. Court documents indicate Dida was found within a restricted zone near her residence — specifically at a mosque they both frequented.
Relatives insist the breach was accidental, stating Dida had gone to the mosque for prayers, unaware that it was within the legally barred radius.
“He didn’t realize the mosque was part of the restricted area. He meant no harm,” a family member said, urging the Kenyan government to assist with legal support and diplomatic engagement.
Prior to his imprisonment at Big Muddy, Dida had briefly been held at the Southwestern Correctional Center. His parole marks a significant turn in what his supporters describe as a complex and unfortunate misunderstanding.
