Shahbal officially becomes ODM member as he seeks party ticket to succeed Joho

Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal is now officially a member of ODM.

This is after he resigned from Jubilee Party on July 6.

However, he could not immediately join ODM pending a confirmation from the Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu that he has been successfully removed from the Jubilee Party list.

“We got confirmation from the registrar yesterday and he immediately did the registration,” said Ahmed Mohammed, a communication officer in Shahbal’s secretariat.

Shahbal paid Sh20,000 as a life membership application fee on Wednesday.

This is the latest step taken by the businessman in his quest to succeed Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.

Last Saturday, Shahbal held talks with Jubilee vice-chairman David Murathe at Kilua Resort during the wedding reception of his daughter Nunu Shahbal.

The two were seen deep in conversation but it is not clear what they were discussing.

Raila was expected to attend the reception, which was also attended by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

According to Shahbal’s aides, the businessman was also set to hold talks with ODM party leader Raila Odinga on Thursday or Friday.

Raila is in Mombasa for talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta who has been in Mombasa since he returned from his London trip on Sunday.

Shahbal accompanied Raila to Murang’a on July 27, when Royal Media Services chairman S. K. Macharia hosted the former Prime Minister for the Skiza Thanksgiving Ceremony.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir who has been in ODM all his political life said he welcomes Shahbal to the party but warned that loyalty to the party and party leader is the utmost price to pay.

Nassir has since said he is not scared of anyone and believes that his nine years of work for the people of Mvita is a testament to his servant leadership, which he says is all that Mombasa people need.

“If you look at me, do I look like someone who is scared of anyone or anything?” said Shahbal.

Nassir and Shahbal are both looking to fly the ODM flag in the race to succeed Joho, the loyal ODM deputy party leader.

Political observers say the two are in competition to get the blessing of Raila to go for Mombasa county’s top seat.

Raila has since said they will have to fight it out at the nomination stage, which he said will be free and fair.

He will not endorse anyone.

On Saturday, the Orange party began an aggressive recruitment drive in Mombasa that seeks to ring-fence their political bastion.

ODM political affairs secretary and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi launched the drive in Changamwe in the company of area MP Omar Mwinyi.

This follows the inroads that Deputy President William Ruto and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka are trying to make in Mombasa and the Coast region.

Nassir has however since denied that he is seeking Raila’s endorsement.

“It is not about an endorsement of any kind,” said Nassir when asked about his increased closeness to Raila.

On July 26, Nassir said he will ask for Raila’s blessings adding that it does not necessarily mean that he is seeking his endorsement.

“I will ask for his blessings as an elder and a father to me. But I am not scared of individuals. Let us talk about ideologies,” said Nassir.

Nassir has recently been organizing high profile meetings in Mombasa where he has hosted Raila.

He however said he has been hosting Raila in Mombasa for years and will continue to do so, dismissing claims he is hosting him so as to endear himself to the party leader.

“If that (hosting Raila) makes people mad, I will do things to make them faint,” said Nassir.

Edited by D Tarus