Mombasa businessman-cum-politician Suleiman Shahbal / BRIAN OTIENO
Mombasa businessman-cum-politician Suleiman Shahbal is facing a familiar political crossroads, but this time the businessman and East African Legislative Assembly MP has chosen a different path.
Four years after shelving his Mombasa gubernatorial ambitions following appeals from then President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, Shahbal has rejected President William Ruto’s plea to abandon his 2027 bid.
Shahbal said he respects Ruto as President and considers him a friend, but insisted the interests of Mombasa residents outweigh the president's wish for him to focus on business.
Speaking during a podcast on Wednesday, Shahbal said he had already made up his mind to seek the governor’s seat and would only withdraw if Mombasa residents rejected his candidature.
“President William Ruto is our leader, and I respect him a lot. He is my friend, but you will forgive me because of what I think about your thoughts. I think that the welfare of Mombasa residents is more important than what you want me to do,” Shahbal said.
His decision marks a sharp contrast with 2022, when he gave up his gubernatorial ambitions after Uhuru and Raila prevailed upon him to support Abdulswamad Nassir.
A close confidant, Alvins Abuya, says the decision was difficult for Shahbal, who had contested the ODM ticket before stepping aside in the interest of party unity and out of respect for the two leaders.
Abuya, who has worked with Shahbal for more than 15 years, said the experience left him exhausted with politics.
“He felt like he wanted to retire from active politics,” Abuya said.
But that position began to change after the Gen Z protests in June 2024, when young people started reaching out to Shahbal and urging him to return to the political contest.
Abuya said Shahbal initially did not take the calls seriously, but the pressure increased over the past year as more people told him Mombasa needed him.
According to Abuya, Shahbal believes he can offer better leadership in the county and has been holding discussions with young people and other groups, although he had not initially declared his interest.
Now, Shahbal says there will be no retreat.
“Whether they like it or not, in 2027, there is no retreat, no about-turn; we shall meet on the ballot on August 10, 2027,” he said.
Ruto had publicly urged Shahbal to reconsider his plans during a State House event where a Sh12 billion agreement involving Shahbal’s GulfCap Group and DP World for a Special Economic Zone in Jomvu, Mombasa, was signed.
The project is expected to create 10,000 jobs.
Ruto argued that Shahbal’s business acumen, connections, and courage would be better used in investment than politics.
“I told Shahbal that ‘I know you want to run for governor in Mombasa’. And I told him that I am against it. Forgive me, my brother Shahbal, you are a great entrepreneur,” Ruto said.
The President said Kenya had enough people willing to pursue politics but needed more industrialists and investors.
Shahbal, however, said the focus should be on the jobs and opportunities expected from the investment.
“Think of the 10,000 jobs that will be created in Mombasa and elsewhere. Don’t focus on the investment,” he told The Star on Wednesday.
Abuya said Shahbal’s decision to seek the governor’s seat was not driven by money.
“SS is not running because of money. SS is running because he believes he can do a better job for Mombasa,” he said.
According to Abuya, Shahbal has been offered opportunities to serve at the national level but has remained focused on Mombasa.
He said Shahbal’s interest was driven by what he believes he can do for the county.
Abuya said even people from Lamu have been trying to convince Shahbal to vie for the Lamu governor position, but his heart is only in Mombasa.
“He has never been interested in all those things—the PS, the CS—he is just interested in fixing Mombasa,” Abuya said.
“If he is to be a politician, he wants to help Mombasa,” Abuya said.
