President William Ruto has openly opposed Suleiman Shahbal's possible return to the Mombasa gubernatorial race, saying the businessman should stay away from elective politics and use his influence, capital and experience to drive investment and create jobs.
Ruto said he had personally advised Shahbal against seeking the county's top political seat, arguing that Kenya could benefit more from his entrepreneurial skills and involvement in major investments.
The President spoke on Tuesday at State House, Nairobi, during the signing of an agreement for the development of the Mombasa Special Economic Zone.
Ruto disclosed that he had directly told Shahbal that he did not support his ambition to make another attempt at becoming Mombasa governor.
“I told Shabal that I know you want to run for governor in Mombasa, and I told him I am against it. And forgive me, my brother Shabal. You are a great entrepreneur. It's not easy to come across people like you,” Ruto said.
Shahbal is no stranger to Mombasa's gubernatorial politics, having contested the seat twice, in 2013 and 2017, with both campaigns ending in defeat against Hassan Joho.
In the March 4, 2013 election, Shahbal ran on a Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya ticket and finished second with 94,905 votes.
Joho won with 132,583 votes, accounting for 49.35 per cent of the valid vote, while Shahbal received 35.32 per cent.
The 2013 contest was followed by a lengthy court battle after Shahbal challenged Joho's election at the High Court in Mombasa, arguing that the electoral process had been irregular.
The case later moved through the courts, with the Supreme Court recording that the dispute arose from the March 2013 Mombasa gubernatorial election.
Shahbal returned to the race four years later, this time as the Jubilee Party candidate.
The IEBC's 2017 gazette listed Shahbal as Jubilee's candidate for Mombasa governor, with Anania Mwasambu Mwaboza as his running mate.
His second political bid also saw him leave the board of Gulf African Bank in 2017 to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.
At the time, Shahbal said he did not want to combine his political ambitions with his responsibilities at the bank. Gulf African Bank was then reported to have assets worth Sh27 billion, 70,000 customers and 17 branches.
The second campaign also ended in defeat, with Joho retaining the Mombasa governorship after securing more than 221,000 votes, compared with Shahbal's 69,515.
It is against this political history that Ruto is now urging Shahbal to concentrate on business and investment instead of making another attempt at elective office.
The President said Kenya already has many people willing to enter politics but needs more entrepreneurs and industrialists who can build businesses, attract investment and create employment.
“We have too many people who can be politicians. I am one of them. It's not that politicians are lesser human beings. No, I'm saying, you know, in our country, there is this thing that every successful person says something in politics,” he said.
“But you see, this country cannot be grown by politicians alone. We need many more people. We need serious industrialists. We need serious investors. We need Kenyans who can do many things that can grow this country.”
Ruto cited Shahbal's involvement in housing projects and the Mombasa Special Economic Zone as examples of the economic contribution he believes the businessman can make outside politics.
The President said the Mombasa project is part of a wider government effort to change Kenya from an economy that mainly exports raw materials into one that produces, processes and exports finished goods.
The Special Economic Zone is expected to provide an integrated platform for manufacturing, warehousing, assembly, processing and export-oriented businesses.
Ruto has argued that Mombasa should move beyond being mainly a point through which goods pass and become a centre where products are manufactured, processed, assembled and exported.
For the President, Shahbal's involvement in such investments shows why he believes the businessman should remain focused on the private sector.
“I say this with tremendous respect to my brother Shahbal. Honestly, I told him, Shahbal, my friend, please, you know, we need you in a different space. You can make a huge contribution to Kenya,” he said.
Ruto's remarks carry a clear political message, coming as Shahbal's name once again features in discussions around Mombasa's political future.
The President wants the businessman to use his experience, networks and capital to expand investment rather than return to the gubernatorial contest he has already entered twice.
Ruto said Kenya's growth requires both political leadership and a strong private sector, with entrepreneurs and industrialists playing a key role in building businesses, factories and investments that can create jobs and generate wealth.
For Shahbal, the message from the President is clear: instead of making a third attempt at becoming Mombasa governor, Ruto would rather see him remain an investor and use his business experience to contribute to Kenya's economic growth.