This archive report was first published on 19 May 2020.
May 19, 2020, marked a significant shift in Mombasa county succession politics as Governor Hassan Joho publicly endorsed his former bitter foe, Suleiman Shahbal. Shahbal, who was Joho's main challenger for the governor's seat in 2017 on a Jubilee party ticket, has been making moves to strengthen his ties with Joho and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Recent events suggest that Joho may have settled on Shahbal as his preferred successor. Raila has hosted Shahbal twice in Nairobi, and the two have been seen together on several occasions. This development has poured cold water into Joho's succession battle, with potential frontrunners being forced to reassess their chances.
Shahbal's recent donation of food to the Mombasa county emergency response committee, co-chaired by Mombasa county commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo and Joho, was attended by several high-ranking officials, including county speaker Aharub Ibrahim Khatri. However, Joho's deputy, William Kingi, and Khatri were noticeably absent from the event, sparking speculation about their stance on Joho's succession plans.
Shahbal's newfound alliance with Joho has also raised eyebrows, particularly given his recent award of a Sh2 billion tender to renovate county estates. The project, which is expected to benefit 2000 families, has been met with opposition from some quarters, but Shahbal has assured his former critics that he will work with Joho to ensure its success.
As the succession politics in Mombasa continue to unfold, it remains to be seen whether Shahbal will ultimately emerge as Joho's preferred successor. However, one thing is clear: the landscape of Mombasa politics has changed forever.
