East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP and prominent businessman Suleiman Shahbal has formally declared his intention to contest the Mombasa gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election, openly defying calls from President William Ruto to abandon his political ambitions and stick to business.
Speaking to the press, Shahbal made it clear that despite his respect for the President, the interests of Mombasa residents take precedence over high-level advice.
“President William Ruto is someone I respect; he is my friend,” Shahbal stated. “But I am telling him, please, on your advice you will have to forgive me because I believe the interests of Mombasa are more important. In 2027, whether they like it or not, there is no retreat. There is no backing down.”
Shahbal’s firm stance follows public remarks made by President Ruto at State House, Nairobi, during the signing of a $93 million (KSh 12 billion) logistics deal between Shahbal’s GulfCap Group and DP World for a Special Economic Zone in Jomvu, Mombasa.
President Ruto disclosed that he had personally asked the GulfCap chairman to drop out of the 2027 race, arguing that his entrepreneurial talent is far more valuable to Kenya’s economy than serving in public office.
“We have too many people who can be politicians,” Ruto remarked during the event. “You are a great entrepreneur with the acumen, capacity, and connections to drive major investments. I told him we need him in a different space where he can create jobs for thousands of people rather than being subjected to county political squabbles.”
Dismissing suggestions that his economic ventures were tied to political compromise, Shahbal asserted that public service remains his driving force. He added that he will not be locked out of the contest through backroom party negotiations—referencing the 2022 campaign when he stepped down in favor of current Governor Abdulswamad Nassir following political consensus.
“This time, only God and the people of Mombasa can stop me,” Shahbal insisted. “The days when people sat in boardrooms to decide who runs and who steps aside are over.”
While Shahbal did not immediately disclose the political party platform he plans to launch his bid on, he emphasized that he is fully prepared to take his campaign directly to the ballot box, with or without a major party ticket. This sets the stage for a high-stakes, multi-candidate contest for control of Kenya’s primary coastal hub in 2027.
