Shahbal resigns from Jubilee to rejoin ODM

Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal has resigned as a member of the Jubilee Party, paving the way for him to rejoin ODM and run for governor. 

Shahbal on February 26 declared he will be "coming back home" to ODM, a party he first joined when he entered elective politics in 2012.

In 2013, he left the party for Wiper following his fierce battle with Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho for the ODM ticket in his first stab at the governorship.

He said he did not believe there would be free and fair nominations at that time when the party was being accused of presiding over unfair nominations across the country.

He lost to Joho, who got 132,507 votes to his 94,918 votes.

In a letter dated July 6, Shahbal said he is appreciative of the support the party accorded him throughout his membership since 2016.

“In the exercise of my constitutional and legal rights to belong to a political party of my choice and guided by the law through Section 14 of the Political Parties Act, 2011, I wish to resign as a member of Jubilee Party,” Shahbal said in the letter addressed to the Jubilee secretary.

The letter was copied to the Registrar of Political Parties and the IEBC.

Shahbal vied for the Mombasa governor seat in 2017 on a Jubilee ticket, finishing second to incumbent Hassan Joho, who is in his second and last term.

Joho retained his seat after garnering 221,363 votes with Shahbal managing 69,429 votes.

He reiterated his intention to re-join ODM in June, upsetting the plans of the party that enjoys massive support in Mombasa.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir has welcomed Shahbal to the party, saying guests are welcome but must conform to the ideals of the party, which include loyalty.

Nassir has been a loyal member of the party and received praise from party leader Raila Odinga last Saturday at Treasury Square during the renewal of Sh18 million NHIF cover for 12,000 Mvita constituents.

“This is my son,” Raila declared.

“He has been loyal to the party and has done us proud as the chair of the Public Investments Committee in the National Assembly,” Raila said.

The battle for the ODM ticket to succeed Joho has seen both Nassir and Shahbal angle for Raila’s blessings.

However, Raila has deliberately avoided local politics in Mombasa, saying he is a father to all and will let the people decide who will fly the ODM flag.

“The governorship (decision) is yours. You will decide who will become governor,” Raila told the cheering crowd on Saturday.

Earlier, Nassir said loyalty is an expensive venture.

“Do not expect it from cheap people,” he said, in a thinly veiled attack on Shahbal.

“We will remain loyal. We welcome people to the party but they have to subscribe to the party ideals, which includes loyalty,” the Mvita MP said.

Shahbal has said he does not need an endorsement from anyone to be governor.

He said he has the people, the will and the heart to serve Mombasa residents as he has done before, albeit in a different capacity.

On January 15, 2019, Shahbal and Joho shook hands and declared they have put aside their differences and would work together.

“We have decided today, going forward, we will unite our people for the interests of our city and county,” Joho said at his office after an hour-long meeting with Shahbal.

“Mombasa is for all of us. Let the work be done. The 2017 election is over. Let’s go forward working for the benefit of our people,” Shahbal said at the time.

This declaration seemed to have driven a wedge between Joho and Nassir who then drifted apart as Shahbal became closer to the governor.

The career banker and business mogul was instrumental in the fight against Covid-19 in Mombasa, working together with Joho and the county government to ensure Mombasa residents are protected.

This led to speculation that Joho would endorse Shahbal as his successor. 

He never did.

Shahbal helped instal sanitising booths in different parts of Mombasa, bought food and medication for the needy and provided small and part-time jobs for the unemployed.

He helped young men and women engage in economic activities during the pandemic.

“I do not need an endorsement from leaders. I just need endorsement from the people of Mombasa whom I will serve diligently,” Shahbal said on one of his Mombasa tours.

The resignation on Tuesday is meant to pave the way for his re-entry into ODM.

Already, close political allies of the governor have declared support for Shahbal.

Long-time aide of both Raila and Joho, Idris Abdulrahman, is now working with Shahbal as one of his strategists.

Former Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba and a close ally of Joho has also declared support for Shahbal as he also seeks to recapture his Kisauni seat that he lost to incumbent Ali Mbogo.

Mbogo has declared interest in the Mombasa governor's seat and is popularising himself at the grassroots.

Mombasa deputy governor William Kingi is also seen to be making moves suggesting he is interested in the seat.

He is in ODM.

It is not known whether he will go for his boss’ seat on the Orange Party ticket.

Raila on Saturday declared the party will conduct free and fair nominations to determine the flag-bearer for the Mombasa governor's seat.

(Edited by V. Graham)