Before a mini-cabinet reshuffle in 2012 that saw him sacked as Tourism Minister, Najib Balala was the undisputed kingpin of Coast politics.
However, six years later, he finds himself in an awkward political position with his future in Mombasa politics still hanging on balance.
After establishing himself as respectable businessman, Balala kicked off his political career to a flying start where he was elected Kongowea Ward Councillor and eventually Mombasa Mayor.
Riding on his impressive development record and keen to spread his tentacles, he went for Mvita MP seat where he faced KANU's heavyweight Sharriff Nassir and trounced him.
Following the death of Kisauni MP Karisa Maitha in 2004, Balala automatically became the face of Coast politics.
Not even his sacking from Cabinet in 2005 dimmed his political career. Instead, during the 2007 poll, he confirmed to the world that he is the man to beat at the Coast when ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga swept to a clean victory in the region.
He was a key member of the grand coalition government where his party leader Raila Odinga served as Prime Minister. However, towards 2012, there were telltale signs that they were headed for a fallout. The Mvita MP was shown the door in what marked the beginning of his fall.
He teamed up with Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto in Jubilee coalition. But in the local political scene, his influence had been watered down by then Kisauni MP Hassan Joho. Blala llost in the Senatorial race to apolitical debutante, Hassan Omar.
He was appointed to the cabinet and never vied for any political seat in 2017.
Will the former powerful politician ever make apolitical comeback?