Mombasa, but make it better
Suleiman's big ideas for the county, pulled from his public speeches and interviews over the years.
Competence first
Hire people for skill, not politics. His main reason for running: bring competence into leadership.
Young people in leadership
He says he plans to encourage more young people to vie for political seats.
Jobs through investment
Team up with private investors on big projects so Mombasa does not depend only on money from the National Treasury. The Jomvu SEZ is his example.
Decent, affordable housing
Scale up projects like Buxton Point, with homes, playfields, clinics and a community centre built in.
Youth and women hubs
Centres that teach business skills and connect people to funding and markets. He pitched this in 2022.
A busier port and free port
In 2017 he promised a free port in Mombasa to create more jobs.
Resort city vibes
Also from 2017: make Mombasa a top resort city in East Africa again.
Listen, then lead
Open town-hall style chats ("Gumzo na Shahbal") and a shared plan for a more prosperous, inclusive and accountable Mombasa.
Note: these come from news reports and past campaigns. The official 2027 manifesto is not out yet. Swap in his team's final points before launch.
Sources: Citizen Digital (Sep 2026), Kenya News Agency (Sep 2026), The Star (2022), Capital FM (2017).
Who is Suleiman?
Suleiman Shahbal was born in Mombasa in 1960. He is the founder and chairman of GulfCap Group of Companies, with interests in finance, real estate, energy and hospitality, and a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), where he chairs the Communication, Trade and Investment Committee.
In September 2026 he confirmed he will seek the Mombasa governorship in the 2027 General Election.
- Education: Bachelor's in Finance, University of Illinois; International Banking studies, University of Colorado-Boulder; Global MBA, United States International University.
- Public service: Chairman of KenTrade, appointed in 2018 and served three years.
- Awards: Distinguished Honorary Award from KNCCI (2023); Entrepreneur of the Year, Pwani Golden Awards (2024).
Business builder
Helped launch Gulf African Bank in 2008 and grow it into one of Kenya's established banks.
Regional legislator
Serves Kenya in the East African Legislative Assembly.
Investing in Jomvu
GulfCap and DP World signed a deal for a 535-acre Special Economic Zone in Jomvu, Mombasa.
What he has built
Banking, fuel, housing, industry. The receipts:
Mombasa Special Economic Zone
A 535-acre industrial park in Jomvu, built with DP World and Mombasa County. Valued at Sh12 billion, with an estimated 7,972 direct jobs in the first phase. Signed September 8, 2026.
Gulf African Bank
Founded Kenya's first Sharia-compliant bank in 2008, opening a new segment of the industry.
Gulf Energy
Built a regional fuel company with operations across East and Southern Africa. Rubis Énergie took a controlling stake in 2019.
Buxton Point, Mombasa
A Sh6 billion housing development by GulfCap Real Estate. President Ruto launched Phase 2 in November 2023.
Starehe Point, Nairobi
An affordable housing project in Starehe, including 2,000 social housing units priced from Sh1.155 million.
GulfCap Real Estate
Named best real estate developer in Africa by the African Union for Housing Finance in 2023.
KenTrade chairman
Appointed to chair KenTrade, the agency that facilitates and promotes trade in Kenya.
Global banking career
Former Deputy General Manager at Bank Muscat and Vice President at Citibank Private Banking. Founded Gulf Cap Investments in Dubai.
Business honours
Recognised by KNCCI Mombasa at the 2023 Mombasa Business Awards for service to the local business community.
Why he is running
Suleiman says he is in this race to bring competence to politics. In his view, leaders chosen for political reasons rather than skill have held the country back, and Mombasa deserves people who can deliver.
Rooted in Mombasa
Youth skills
The Shahbal Foundation has sponsored technical training for young people at the NITA college in Mombasa.
Sport
Founded Mombasa United Football Club in 2021 and launched the Shahbal Super Cup for ward teams.
Jobs
Backs large investments, like the Jomvu economic zone, that can create employment locally.
Gallery
The journey
- 2013First run for governor, on a Wiper ticket. He won 94,905 votes.
- 2017Second run, on a Jubilee ticket.
- 2022Sought the ODM ticket, then stepped down to back Abdulswamad Nassir.
- Sept 2026Told NTV he is leaving ODM and will be on the ballot in August 2027, with a new party vehicle to come.
- 2027Third run for governor.
Watch and follow
Interviews and updates from Suleiman.
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