{
  "id": 11595242,
  "title": "Suleiman Shabal: 24 of 30 elected Mombasa MCAs want to join my party",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/suleiman-shabal-24-of-30-elected-mombasa-mcas-want-to-join-my-party",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T03:59:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/inside-politics/suleiman-shabal-24-of-30-elected-mombasa-mcas-want-to-join-my-party"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mombasa gubernatorial candidate Sulaiman Shabal has announced that 24 out of the county's 30 elected Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have shown interest in joining his new political party ahead of the 2027 General Election. Shabal, who recently left the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), made the claim during an interview with Herman Manyora on October 3, 2026. The MCAs are reportedly waiting for the right moment to officially switch parties, as they are concerned about their political positions and benefits. Shabal's son, Samir Suleiman Shahbal, was appointed as the interim Party Leader of The New Democrats (TND) after Shabal's exit from ODM in September 2026. The TND party is actively seeking young people who are interested in entering elective politics and promises free and fair nominations. Shabal has also declared his intention to run for Mombasa Governor in 2027, despite President William Ruto's request for him to remain in the private sector.",
  "summary": "Mombasa gubernatorial hopeful and East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Sulaiman Shabal has claimed that 24 of the county’s 30 elected Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have expressed interest in joining his new political party ahead of the 2027 General Election. Speaking during an interview with Herman Manyora on Friday, October 3, 2026, Shabal said […]",
  "key_points": [
    "24 of 30 Mombasa MCAs want to join Suleiman Shabal's new party.",
    "Shabal recently left Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).",
    "TND party seeks young people for elective politics."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This development signals a potential shift in Mombasa's political landscape, with a significant number of MCAs apparently willing to defect to Shabal's new party, The New Democrats, ahead of the 2027 elections.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}