East African Legislative Assembly member of Parliament Suleiman Shahbal delivers his speech during the Ethiopia Tourism Promotion Event at the Ethiopian Embassy in Nairobi on July 23, 2026.

📋 Breaking It Down

Weeks after signing a deal to set up a Special Economic Zone in Mombasa with global logistics company DP World at State House in Nairobi, businessman Suleiman Shahbal is struggling to separate the agreement from his political ambitions.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party Secretary General Omar Hassan is among the latest leaders to ask the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) MP to quit politics and focus on business.

President William Ruto had initially advised Mr Shahbal to leave politics, but the businessman declined.

📌 What You Need to Know

Mr Omar, who is also aiming to unseat Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, said there is a risk of creating a conflict of interest if Mr Shahbal becomes Mombasa governor while remaining a major player in the county’s business sector.

“If you are a businessman, stick to business and let administrators provide the frameworks and systems for government because you are conflicted,” Mr Omar said.

“You do not know whether to construct houses or develop the SEZ or give Kenyans that opportunity. I am coming to facilitate Kenyans to work. I am not coming to capture the State; I am coming to provide a framework for people to work within the State,” he added.

Mr Omar presented his experience as a human rights activist, former Mombasa Senator and current UDA Secretary General as part of his credentials for the race.

Mr Omar said his political ambition is driven by what he described as the need to improve governance and restore what he termed respect, dignity and constitutionalism in Mombasa.

The Sh12 billion agreement between his GulfCap Group and DP World aims to develop a 535-acre Special Economic Zone in Jomvu. The land is owned by the County Government of Mombasa and was previously leased to the Kenya Meat Commission.

📰 Source: Nation Africa