Dida battles for religious rights after US release on parole
Dida is expected to contribute to community service through philanthropy, a requirement tied to his release terms.
Former presidential aspirant Mwalimu Abduba Dida is out of prison but not out of trouble, as he continues to battle legal and religious freedom issues following his release from a US correctional facility on parole.
Dida was convicted in 2021 for stalking and threatening his estranged wife, Mama Leila, a US citizen he met after moving to the United States in January 2019.
His sentence followed a breach of a court-issued restraining order, which occurred when he visited a mosque near her home.
According to family members, the visit was intended for prayer and not to violate the restraining order.
"He visited a nearby mosque to pray, and unfortunately, the mosque also happened to be around the area where he was not supposed to be because Mama Leila also frequently visited the mosque," a relative explained.
Dida was released on March 3, 2025, from the Big Muddy Correctional Center, ahead of the original release date set for April 3, 2029.
His release was granted under parole conditions, meaning he will serve the remainder of his sentence outside prison walls but under government supervision.
Initially held at the South Western Correctional Center, Dida was later transferred to Big Muddy, where he began filing legal complaints against the correctional system. One of his key grievances is the alleged violation of his right to practice his religion.
"Plaintiff claims that now at Big Muddy, he has been approved as a volunteer imam, but he has only been allowed one Friday prayer. He has otherwise been denied prayers before and after sunrise and sunset, and he has been denied three additional prayers," reads a complaint filed at the US District Court, Southern District of Illinois.
Dida’s family says the entire episode has taken a toll on him and are calling for stronger support from the Kenyan government to assist in his legal defense.
"We are praying for him, trying to find a way of visiting him and find another lawyer and be able to help him," the family said.
The couple had reportedly lived in harmony after their marriage until mid-2021, when a dispute escalated, leading to legal intervention by Leila.
Dida’s arrest and subsequent imprisonment followed shortly after the restraining order was put in place.
As he continues life under parole, Dida is expected to contribute to community service through philanthropy, a requirement tied to his release terms.
His parole status means that any violation of the set conditions could lead to his re-incarceration.
Despite the legal challenges, Dida remains a notable figure in Kenya, remembered for his bold, faith-driven campaigns during the 2013 and 2017 elections.