Blog: Help bring Dalla back home

There is a famous saying that goes, a man in need is a man indeed. When a man comes out for help, then he really needs it.

Well, there is one who does, and having helped so many when he could, I believe he deserves a second opportunity at life. Mr Abdallah Mwasiki Kilume, popularly known as Dalla or Abdalla King, is in trouble.

Dalla, a great footballer in his time was arrested on 31 July 2012, and charged with being a member of the Al-Shabaab terror group, even though there have been different versions by the police on the circumstances of his arrest.

The police also charged that Dalla’s daughter and a son-in-law are members of Al-Shabaab in Somalia, his children are members of terror groups in Somalia and Afghanistan and that he was found with devices for detonating explosives. He was given a bail of Ksh one million, with a surety of the same amount.

I would like to ask Kenyans to speak and help this innocent comrade of ours. He works for a Muslim charity in the Majengo and Pumwani slums. His work is to help the poor, to pay their medical bills, school fees and other needs.

Top footballer

Dalla, for those not in the know, was a great football player. 

In his playing days, which was during the late 80's to late 90's, he featured for Pumwani and Eastleigh Sportiff. Dalla played for Eastleigh Sportiff in the KFF Super League (presently Tusker Premier League). 

He was lucky to play alongside legends like Zedekiah Zico Otieno, Charles Korea Omondi, Daniel Ogada, Washington Khamadi and others.

At one time, Dalla was recruited by Kenya Breweries (Tusker FC), but he turned down the offer due to his strong religious beliefs. He was also a trialist for national team Harambee Stars, under German coach Reinhadt Fabisch.

Role Model:

He has been a role model to many youth, who made out to the club level football from the slums, he has mentored many players and ordinary citizens. He has been the light many, from Majengo slums to California flats, to Shauri Moyo, to Mbotela and Makadara, he was a compass Name. The likes of Jamal Malo Mohammed, Dennis Oliech, Willies Ochieng, Musa Mohammed, Alfred Chege and others, who came in Dalla’s shadow. He’s been a good role model to them.

Dalla is still in police custody, his family is in the process of sorting out the bail. With the current security and political situation in Kenya, innocent Kenyans are becoming victims. There are many people who know Dalla and who can stand up and tell the truth. He is a true Kenyan of Muslim faith, born and raised, why persecute him for his faith? Why persecute him for fighting for the right of his son? He is a parent protecting his family? Dalla has only one son, why are the police lying that he has son in Afghanistan? He also has no daughter in Somalia!