Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal has publicly rejected advice from President William Ruto to abandon his political ambitions, declaring that he will remain in the race for the Mombasa governorship in 2027. During the launch of a Shahbal-owned Special Economic Zone, President Ruto encouraged the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament to step back from elective politics and focus on entrepreneurship. “I told Shaban that I know you want to run for governor in Mombasa. And I told him I am against it. Forgive me, my brother, Shaban. You are a great entrepreneur. It’s not easy to come across people like you, who have the acumen, who have the capacity, who have the connection, who dare to do the kind of investments that are going on in this country,” Ruto said. The president argued that the prominent businessman can serve Kenya better by creating jobs and investing in business than by joining elective politics. “Look at what you are doing with this. It will get 10,000 people working. It is better than you going there and being troubled by MCAs, being shouted at, facing demonstrations, and being abused,” he said. Shahbal directly addressed the president’s comments, asserting that he remains fully committed to his gubernatorial bid. “Forgive me because I think Mombasa issues are more important than what you suggest,” Shahbal told Ruto. “Let me tell you in no u...
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