Shahbal Warns Ruto Against ODM “Cancer” Spreading to UDA

Businessman Suleiman Shahbal has urged President William Ruto to prevent any political maneuvering within the ODM party from spilling over and undermining his UDA party, warning that such interference could trigger its collapse.

Speaking on Monday, September 28, Shahbal said ODM has adopted a practice of allocating party tickets based on personal closeness or friendship with the party leader, as well as on who pays more. He described the trend as a “cancer” that has consumed the party.

Shahbal further claimed that the approach helped cost the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga the presidency in 2022, and he cautioned Ruto not to tolerate similar behavior.

“I am telling the President, William Ruto, while you are working with ODM, be careful that the cancer of ODM does not affect your party as well.

“What have those shenanigans of pushing leaders because of friendship or giving them tickets because they paid more for them done? Raila lost the presidency in Nyanza and other ODM strongholds because the people did not come out to vote. After all, politicians who got tickets did not mobilise them,” he said.

Shahbal voiced his frustration with ODM’s decision to remove Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino from the party. He claimed that the move followed a plan to push him out, but he warned that he would not leave quietly.

Shahbal also hinted that he may form a new political party based in Kenya’s Coast region, which he said would break away from the dominance of large parties. He added that people in the region should be free to select their own leaders.

The businessman, who recently said he plans to run for the Mombasa governorship seat in the 2027 General Election despite Ruto’s advice, said he would not immediately choose between the government and the United Opposition. Instead, he said he will wait for both sides to clearly explain what they intend to do for the region.

He further cautioned the Opposition against relying on slogans, drawing a comparison with U.S. elections in 2024.

“It reminds me of Kamala Harris, campaign in the US: ‘Trump is corrupt, Trump is a thief, Trump is a womaniser’. Now Trump is the President. That strategy is not going to work,” he said.

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