Mombasa Governor hopeful Suleiman Shahbal meets members of the Kamba community who have endorsed him for the county top seat. [Photo: Suleiman Shahbal/ facebook.com]
Mombasa governor hopeful Suleiman Shahbal has continued to consolidate his numbers in his quest for the county top seat after receiving major endorsements.
Shahbal, who is vying on a Jubilee Party ticket, was on Sunday endorsed by a section of members of the Kamba community who vowed to vote for him to the last man during the August 8 polls.The Kamba community is the county’s second largest voting bloc after the native Mijikenda with political analysts backing the Kamba votes to play a crucial role in determining the next county chief.This comes barely a day after the race for Luhya votes in the county’s gubernatorial race took a major twist on Saturday after Shahbal received backing from a section of the members of the community.With a voting population of over 80,000 voters, the significance of the Luhya votes cannot be wished away during the August 8 elections in the cosmopolitan county.Shahbal assured members of the two communities of equal opportunities in his administration should he form the next county government.Speaking after the endorsements, Shahbal who is making his second stab at the governorship after a failed bid in 2013 exuded confidence that with the numbers he has at his disposal, victory during the August 8 elections is inevitable.He urged the members of the Luhya community to cast their votes in Mombasa, arguing that they need not travel upcountry as they live and work in the Coastal city and that as such, should have a say in local politics.Shahbal warned that should they fail to decide on who governs them, then they risk being led by poor leaders who will not take care of their needs.Members of the Maasai community have also vowed to back Shahbal’s bid for the top county job.