Coast politician and businessman Suleiman Shahbal has rejected President William Ruto’s advice to quit politics and concentrate on business, declaring that he will contest the Mombasa gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election.
The East African Legislative Assembly MP said Ruto’s recognition of his ability to deliver development had instead strengthened his resolve to seek public office, setting the stage for another political contest in Mombasa.
“President William Ruto is the President of the Republic of Kenya, and I respect him. But I do not agree with him on one thing: that I should leave politics and continue with business,” Shahbal said.
He said business was largely driven by private interests, while political leadership required putting the needs of the public first.
“When you seek political office, you are expected to put the interests of the public ahead of your own. I want to use the abilities and opportunities God has given me to benefit our people,” he said.
Shahbal said he was not discouraged by previous attempts to keep him out of the Mombasa gubernatorial race, recalling that he withdrew from the 2022 contest following political negotiations that eventually saw Governor Abdulswamad Nassir secure the ODM ticket.
He said the decision disappointed many residents and vowed to remain in the race unless God or the voters decided otherwise.
“This time, only God and the people of Mombasa can stop me. We are in this race until the final day, and while others are preparing, we are preparing too,” he said.
Shahbal also criticised what he described as a long-standing practice where party leaders make decisions behind closed doors on who should contest elections and who should step aside.
“The days when people would sit in boardrooms and decide who should run and who should not are over. This time, we are organised and ready,” he said.
He claimed some Members of the County Assembly who supported him in 2022 were threatened with losing their ODM tickets, saying the experience had pushed him to prepare for the 2027 contest without relying on the party.
“We have prepared ourselves, so keep your ticket. The politics of intimidating people and forcing them out of parties is part of the reason political parties are losing leaders,” Shahbal said.
Shahbal also defended the Buxton project, which he linked to his development record in Mombasa, saying the initiative had been planned since 2018 and should not be viewed as a political project ahead of the 2027 election.
“The Buxton project started in 2018, before the 2022 election. The other project we are undertaking also began before the election. Anyone who would oppose a project that can create jobs for people in Mombasa simply because of politics would be making a serious mistake,” he said.
He said creating employment should take priority over political rivalries, noting that families across Mombasa have people seeking jobs regardless of their economic status.
Shahbal also dismissed claims that his return to politics was motivated by the desire to make money, saying he was satisfied with what he had already acquired.
“I am not entering politics because I am looking for money; what God has given me is enough. I believe that when you are given much, much is expected of you,” he said.
He said he intended to use public office to support vulnerable residents, including single mothers, rather than enrich himself.
“Even if I earn the governor’s salary, I have told my colleagues that I would use it to support single mothers. I would not put that money in my pocket,” he said.
On his relationship with ODM, Shahbal described his current position as a “friendly divorce”, saying he had been informed that he would not receive the party’s ticket.
“We have had a friendly divorce with ODM. It has been made clear to us that we will not get the ODM ticket. But take this to the bank, whether we get the ODM ticket or not, we are prepared, and we will be on the ballot,” he said.
