Briefing 2 min read

Mwalimu Dida serving seven years in US jail for stalking

Samuel Njihia

Correspondent

Mwalimu Dida serving seven years in US jail for stalking

Mwalimu Mohamed Abduba Dida. (Photo: Courtesy)

Mohamed Abduba Dida, the former teacher who ran for Kenya’s presidency in 2013 and 2017, is currently serving a seven-year sentence in a U.S. prison for stalking and intimidation.

Dida, 50, popularly known as Mwalimu, has been detained at the Big Muddy Correctional Center in Illinois since November 18, 2022, after being found guilty of two charges.

The offenses were committed in McLean County, Illinois.

The former Lenana School teacher recently filed a complaint over the alleged violation of his constitutional rights, including the right to practice Islam and to observe the Islamic daily schedule of prayer.

“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 legal complaint filed in the US District Court, Southern District of Illinois.

Dida also complained that he needed a full shower on Friday before prayer, but despite many meetings about this, he has been unable to arrange it.

“He claims that even a single drop of urine nullifies his prayer, which makes it problematic to pray in a cell where toilets are co-located,” the compaint adds.

Dida is scheduled to be released on April 3, 2029.

Samuel Njihia

Correspondent

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