Former Likoni MP Suleiman Shakombo at a past event. Photo/ the-star.co.ke
Having been in the political cold for one decade now, former Likoni MP and Cabinet Minister Rashid Suleiman Shakombo is back in the race for the constituency's top seat.Shakombo came to parliament in 1997 on a Shirikisho Party ticket before switching to NARC in 2002 and won convincingly. However, since then, he has become a forgotten man in the constituency politics.The former National Heritage Minister who has now lost twice to the incumbent Masoud Mwahima will now seek the seat on a Wiper Party ticket.Of concern to Shakombo, however, is how to dislodge the ODM wave that is sweeping across the populous constituency that is ranked one of the poorest in the county.Already, ANC's Bernard Waore is a front runner to unseat Mwahima whose defection to Jubilee has seen him become unpopular in the region where Raila Odinga enjoys a huge following.Also in the race are ODM pair of Hamisi Domoko and Mombasa Women Representative Mishi Mboko who will battle it out for the ODM party ticket during the nominations slated for this week.For Shakombo, whose rising political star was abruptly dimmed by a newcomer in 2007, the task ahead is monumental. However, he has already hit the ground running trying to endear himself to the people even as he aims to rediscover his political magic ahead of the August contest that may prove to be his make or break moment in the murky world of politics.