The battle for supremacy in the coastal city of Mombasa between the Orange Democratic Movement and Jubilee party has begun ahead of the 2022 general elections.

This is after Suleiman Shahbal a key Jubilee party politician switched camps to to ODM.

On Thursday, July 8, Shahbal who is seeking the ODM ticket for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat had dinner with Governor Hassan Joho. 

“Yesterday, my brother H.E Governor Hassan Joho hosted me for dinner at his Nyali residence together with Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, CEC Taufiq Balala and the governor’s advisor David Odada,” Shahbal said in a post on Friday morning that he shared on his Facebook page.

The banker and politician said he had fruitful deliberations on how the governor and himself can jointly work towards the development of Mombasa County. 

“Meanwhile, in his capacity as the ODM Deputy Party Leader, Governor Joho welcomed my move to join the party as I assured him of my total support towards his efforts to unite the Coast region,” Shahbal said. 

Shahbal will be battling for the ODM ticket with Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir and Deputy Governor William King in a move political pundits say will pose a problem for party leader Raila Odinga and Governor Joho who are close to the three candidates. 

Shahbal vied against Joho twice, coming second in both polls. However, critics question the bankers decision to join ODM stating that Shahbal has defected more than thrice since joining politics in 2012. 

In eight years, Shahbal has switched camps from Jubilee party, ODM, Wiper and Amani National Congress.