Shahbal: Why I am defying Ruto to contest for Mombasa governorship

• He says incompetence has compromised integrity in leadership, denying qualified individuals opportunities to share their expertise in transforming the nation.

Businessman and EALA MP Suleiman Shahbal during a past function. PHOTO | COURTESY

Businessman Suleiman Shahbal has said his main reason for not backing down from the 2027 Mombasa governors' race is to bring competence to politics.

According to the governorship hopeful, incompetence has compromised integrity in leadership, denying qualified individuals opportunities to share their expertise in transforming the nation.

This comes as President William Ruto asked him to keep off politics, a move he has since objected.

Shahbal, a current Member of Parliament for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), maintains he will remain undeterred in his governorship.

"It is competent people who should be encouraged to go into government and to go into politics so that we can change this country," he said during an interview with NTV on Monday.

"We will never change this country by just putting people there just because they are politically right."

He said he plans to encourage young people to contest for political positions, a move he believes will cure Kenya's long-running leadership problems.

"It is time for competent young people to go into politics, and many of them will tell you we don’t have the structures, we have the structures, we don’t have the money, we will find the money, but we have to encourage young people to come into politics."

Shahbal drew contrasts with President Ruto's first Cabinet, saying it was severely mishandled because of onboarding incompetent individuals.

"Look at the first cabinet the president came with; he brought in some really incompetent people who are politically right, and look at the mess they put him in," he argued.

The President had earlier advised Shahbal to focus on entrepreneurship instead of running for the seat.

“I told Shahbal that I know you want to run for governor in Mombasa. And I told him I am against it. Forgive me, my brother, Shahbal," Ruto said during the opening of Shahbal-owned Special Economic Zone on September 8.

"You are a great entrepreneur. It's not easy to come across people like you, who have the acumen, who have the capacity, who have the connection, who dare to do the kind of investments that are going on in this country."

However, Shahbal has maintained confidence, believing that he is fit for the seat.

He has also clarified that his defiance against President Ruto is solely because of his political interests.