Former Jubilee aspirant for the Mombasa Gubernatorial race Suleiman Shahbal has challenged Coast leaders to rethink about the future of the region ahead of 2022.
In a post of Facebook, Shabaan said that the unity of the region has been a farfetched dream because of the lack of understanding among leaders from the Mijikenda community. He noted that he has been supportive in the formation of the party from the region but he is not sure whether it will help them have a share of the national cake.
In his argument, Shahbal, who was a Jubilee point man in the last general elections, says that Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and his Kilifi Counterpart Amason Kingi stand the best chances of helping the region realise its dream as far as the presidency is concerned.
Shahbal also weighed in on the relationship between Joho and ODM leader Raila Amolo Odinga, saying it is symbiotic. He went on to challenged the Luo political kingpin to root for Joho’s Deputy Prime Minister in the new arrangement.
He noted that it remains unclear whether Raila will reward Joho for stand with him all these time when no one else did. He noted that the second term Governor has been vocal whenever Raila came under attack, adding that he also has the financial muscle to support his campaigns.
He challenged the leaders to retrace their footsteps before it is too late for them.
“Joho is the National Deputy Party Leader of ODM, but will this carry him to the position of Deputy Prime Minister in the new proposed scheme of things?
Joho’s influence is his willingness and capacity to finance ODM. Money talks. However, ODM bigwigs critical of Joho say that there is a quid pro quo – Joho’s money has translated into unqualified support from the diehard Luo/Luhya votes which have guaranteed Joho two terms,” Suleiman said.
"The Joho - Raila relationship has been symbiotic. As Raila increasingly plays the senior elder statesman, he enjoys having Joho as the attacking general saying things he prefers to let others say.
The question remains whether this will translate into a DPM position or will Joho’s support be meaningless once Raila has Central Kenya’s support and funding. Will Raila repay years of loyalty and support? Time will tell," he added.
Raila Odinga has been under scrutiny after the handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.