Mohamed Abduba Dida was serving a seven-year sentence in the US.
Mohamed Abduba Dida, the two-time presidential candidate who was convicted in the US, has been released from prison after serving three years.
Mr Dida walked out of the Big Muddy Correctional Center on March 4. He was released on parole.
Parole is the early release of a prisoner before he or she completes a sentence, on account of good behavior, which must be maintained once out of prison.
In the event the released convict breaks the law or the terms of parole, he or she is taken back to prison for completion of the sentence.
Ms Amina Liban, one of Mr Dida’s three Kenyan wives, confirmed on Wednesday that the two-time presidential candidate is a free man in the US, now focused on reviving his philanthropy dream.
Mohamed Abduba Dida was serving a seven-year sentence in the US.
Ms Liban added that just before being arrested in 2022, Mr Dida had registered a charity organisation in Minnesota, which was to help less privileged individuals in the US and Africa.
“Yes, he was released on March 4, 2025, on parole. He is living in his house in Minnesota. He had started the Dida Foundation International and had completed registration just before he was arrested. The last time we spoke, he said he wants to revive the foundation. He is currently looking for an office to rent in Minnesota,” Ms Liban said.
Presidential contender
Mr Dida contested the Kenyan presidency unsuccessfully in 2013 and 2017. His appearance in pre-election debates, however, earned him 15 minutes of fame.
The foundation has a Facebook page, which was created in 2019. At the time, the page’s administrator put out a plea for financial assistance in promoting civic and technical education of the less fortunate.
On the profile, the foundation states that it is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Prior to leaving Kenya, Mr Dida would occasionally preach to homeless youth in Nairobi on Fridays.
Ms Liban said that she speaks with her husband nearly every day.
He has two other wives in Nairobi.
Arrest and conviction
Mr Dida was arrested in 2021 in Illinois, following a complaint by his American wife over alleged stalking, threats and violating a restraining order barring him from being near her.
He was convicted on the three counts in 2022. Mr Dida was initially held at the East Moline Correctional Center, also in Illinois, before being transferred to Big Muddy Correctional Centre.
He was to serve a two-year sentence for stalking and transmitting threats, and a five-year sentence for aggravated stalking and violating the restraining order.
Former Presidential contestant Mohammed Abduba Dida during a past TV appearance.
Mr Dida’s earliest release, on parole, was set for March 4, 2025.
The marriage in the US resulted in a child. In Kenya, the former teacher has more than a dozen children.
“Mwalimu Dida had been in constant contact with us and… he said there was an issue between him and his wife. Suddenly, we missed his calls. Mwalimu Dida is a family man; he has responsibilities and he takes care of them very diligently. But in 2022, when we missed his calls for over 10 days, we got worried because he had earlier reported that things were not very good between him and his new wife.”
“When I completely lost contact, I contacted Mama Leila and that is when she confirmed to me that he is in safe hands, he is in custody,” Mr Dida’s wife, Halake Amina, said in a past interview with the Nation.
Amina Halake (centre), wife of Mohamed Abduba Dida.
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When still in custody, Mr Dida would communicate with his family in Kenya.
After the 2022 arrest, his family was unsuccessful in attempting to have the American wife drop her complaints, which led to the conviction.
bwasuna@ke.nationmedia.com
