[Omondi Onyango,Standard]A decision by politician and business tycoon Suleiman Shahbal to join Orange Party has complicated Governor Hassan Joho’s succession plan. Since last year, after the duo buried the hatchet on January 15, 2019, Joho’s and Shahbal’s relationship has blossomed sparking debate in the county leadership’s succession battle. A former fierce critic of the governor, Shahbal has turned out to be a great admirer of Joho, hailing him as an “innovative leader”. The duo has in the last two elections spent huge sums of money in the race for the Mombasa governor seat. They faced off in the 2013 and 2017 race where Joho emerged the winner while Shahbal came second.

Source: Standard Digital June 14, 2021 21:00 UTC