Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal has unveiled former Jomvu deputy county commissioner Selina Maitha as his running mate in the Mombasa governor contest.

Shahbal, one of the frontrunners eyeing the ODM ticket in the quest to succeed Governor Hassan Joho, confirmed picking Selina Maitha as his running mate in the August 9 elections.

In a colorful event held at Majaoni in Kisauni attended by a host of Mijikenda elders and religious leaders,Shahbal said his decision to settle for Selina as his running mate was reached after consultations with Mombasa county elders.

Selina is a younger sister of the former minister, who died in 2004 while on a work trip to Germany.Shahbal expressed hopes with her political potential to steer him to the top seat.Shabal through his Gumzo na Shahbal campaign slogan in the grassroots resulted in her nomination.

“I now announce that Selina Maitha is my running mate for Mombasa governor, before settling for her we were advised by elders, we sought advice from everyone, and we did that according to their advice,” said Shahbal.

Shahbal said his agenda is well cut out to change the lives of Mombasa people. He said the needs for Mombasa people will be solved through a people centered leadership that will work harmoniously with everyone.

“We are determined to improve health status in Mombasa, set aside money to boost struggling local economies, empower women groups, youth and the elderly, because the government will listen to everyone without discrimination, “said Shahbal.

Shahbal once again asked the ODM party to exercise democracy in determining the ODM ticket flagbearer, and not to pinpointing individuals. He said the people should be given an opportunity to decide who they want to rule them in Mombasa.

“We don’t want rhetoric,the people of Mombasa have suffered enough, this is the time to change our leadership because Change Must Come in Mombasa, we don’t fear anyone because we are ready to face them,”Shahbal said in reference to his nomination opponents.

Speaking after being officially unveiled, the deputy governor said she wants to follow the roots of her brother who she says was instrumental in her young life as the last born of the Maitha Family. She says her dream was to serve the people of Mombasa same way as his elder brother Karisa Maitha did.

The deputy governor said her decision to deputize the governor was arrived at after a thorough soul serving and advice she got from the neighbors, religious leaders from Mombasa.

“My brother was instrumental in my life,he introduced me to politics when I was a small girl, we used to interact a lot and I used to see how he helped people, he was my role model. And now that I have joined politics, I will serve the people of Mombasa the same way and I believe together with Shahbal,we will transform this country,” She said.

She says her mission is to mobilize women votes so that Shahbal can become the next governor of Mombasa and actualize his dreams together so that she can see Mombasa economy thrive and Mombasa people get empowered.

“We must see change this year, we must change the lives of our mothers, our youth and our elderly people, I am equal to the task given to me by Suleiman Shahbal and I ask for your support in this journey,” said Maitha.

She had been a deputy county commissioner in Machakos and held the same position in acting capacity in Kalama sub-county until January this year.She made her debut in public administration as a district officer in Kiambu, a position she held from 2004 to 2006.

She later held similar positions in different regions in Kilifi, Bomet and Narok.The duo is now warming up to succeed Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho in the August 9 polls.Shahbal will be making a third stamp in the gubernatorial contest after twice unsuccessfully contesting against Joho.

Other politicians in the race for the ODM ticket are Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir and Deputy Governor William Kingi while former Mombasa senator Hasan Sarai is eying on United Democratic Alliance UDA ticket.