Shahbal supporters angry at Jubilee over KPA post

Supporters of Mombasa politician Suleiman Shahbal are a disappointed lot after recent parastatal appointments left out their man whom they had expectations would become Kenya Ports Authority chairman.

There had been rumours he would be rewarded with a plum government appointment for his defecting to the Jubilee Alliance Party of Kenya from the Wiper party. The failure by Jubilee to recognise Shahbal in the recent appointments has therefore shocked his political camp.

Sources say Shahbal's key political advisers are exploring various options among them how he can get out of Jubilee without being branded a party hopper. It is instructive to note that some of Shahbal's supporters were not happy when he left Wiper.

Mombasa county is an opposition stronghold as evidenced by the voting pattern in the last general elections.

Apart from embarrassment by being left out by the government, Shahbal's other serious hurdle in his endeavour to become Mombasa governor is the emergence of Nyali MP Hezron Awiti in the race.

Shahbal was overwhelmingly voted for by Mombasa Kambas in the last general elections when he vied for governor on a Wiper ticket. Analysts predict that the support was likely to shift to Awiti who is a Wiper MP and the party's national treasurer.