On Thursday, September 12, 2024, the family of former presidential candidate Mohammed Abduba Dida appealed to President William Ruto’s government to assist in securing his release from a U.S. prison, where he is serving a 7-year sentence.
Dida was convicted in Illinois in 2021 for stalking and threatening his estranged American wife. Court records show that he was imprisoned in July 2021 after being found guilty of violating a restraining order she had obtained.
His family claims that Dida unknowingly violated the restraining order, stating that he visited a prayer center near his wife’s residence without realizing it was against the law. According to them, Dida went to a nearby mosque to pray, unaware that it was within a restricted area outlined in the restraining order.
The family is urging intervention from Ruto’s administration, believing it is the only way to facilitate Dida’s release. They also plan to visit him in prison and seek new legal representation.
Dida, who will turn 50 in November, is currently incarcerated at the Big Muddy Correctional Center in Illinois.
By Kenya Post