Mombasa businessman cum politician Suleiman Shahbal has hit out at former Mombasa Senator Hassan Sarai Omar over his criticism of the Buxton house project.

Addressing the media at a hotel in Mombasa, Shahbal accused Omar of using the project for 2022 political gain.

"You dont have any job and have never been employed, you only depend on political handouts so stop making alot of noise. We dont need politics of activism and noise" said Shahbal.

Adding "You have never even consytructed a kiosk in your life let alone a house yet you say this is a small project. This project is for the benefit of the people of Buxton and will also provide jobs for the youth, you have political handouts, these youths don't have those handouts, they want jobs".

Shahbal revealed  that over 1,000 people have already applied for the houses which will be constructed from January 2021, including politicians adding that over 400 residents have already accepted to move out of the area and they start receiving their compensations on 1st October.

Shahbal charged "Stop being hypocrites, some of those politicians that you walk with have already applied for those houses yet you are here pretending to be criticising the project".

In a meeting with a section of residents from Buxton on Sunday, Omar opposed the project arguing that Shahbal had opposed the same project in 2013.

"Why the change of heart now, nothing has changed about the project, the people are still the same. What is it that you see now that you did not see in 2013 " said Omar.

Adding “This is the problem of installing businessmen in leadership,”.

Nyali Mp Mohammed Ali also opposed the project calling on Shahbal to instead construct the houses in slum areas like Moroto, Kambi Kikuyu and Kisumu Ndogo.

Shahbal further noted that he is not 'desperate' to take over from Hassan Joho as Mombasa Governor in 2022.

"Let me make it very clear, I'm not desperate to become the next governor of Mombasa, I'm only desperate to help the people of Mombasa" he said.

The Buxton estate will include 150 units for the county staff and another 352 rental or purchasable units.