Deputy President William Ruto addressing Jubilee delegates at Wild Waters Centre in Mombasa. [Photo/DPPS]
Jubilee Party has appointed a new point man to spearhead the party’s plan in the Coast region ahead of the October 17, 2017 repeat elections.Businessman Suleiman Shahbal who unsuccessfully contested for the Mombasa governor seat has been replaced by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala.Balala has been tasked with rallying the electorate in the region and getting the numbers for President Uhuru Kenyatta.Shahbal on Friday faced hostility when he attempted to address Jubilee delegates drawn from the six Coast counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi,Tana River, Taita Taveta and Lamu, during a meeting at Wild Waters Centre in Mombasa, forcing Balala to intervene.Deputy President William Ruto who was present during the meeting acknowledged the fact that Jubilee was experiencing leadership challenges in the region, and assured the delegates that the party will not allow ‘outsiders’ to take the positions of locals.“We had challenges here in Mombasa in the August 8 presidential elections and I heard that the problem was with our agents. We have now resolved that Mr Balala will be in charge of this region and will coordinate the campaigns with the other leaders,” said Ruto, as quoted by Nation.Both Uhuru and NASA leader Raila Odinga are on a hunt for the Coastal vote ahead of the elections.