Hang drug dealers, Mombasa gubernatorial hopeful

Mombasa gubernatorial aspirant on a Jubilee ticket, Suleiman Shahbal, has called for the adoption of the Malaysian laws where drug trafficking is classified as a capital offence.

Speaking to the press in Mombasa, Shahbal proposed that under the new laws, those found engaging in drug trafficking should be subjected to death penalty while those arrested should have all their assets confiscated by the government.

“Members of my family have died from this menace. This is not political for me, its personal,” said Shahbal.

“Let us stop this hypocrisy and deal with the real issue; and the issue is that the drug menace must be addressed.”

While terming the drug business as “a low-risk-high-return business” at the Coast, Shahbal called on the government to deal with the menace firmly saying the people were fed up.

“There are beneficiaries of the drug business who include senior ODM politicians who consistently come to the Coast to collect money from the drug dealers,” alleged Shahbal.

The seemingly irate Shahbal further rubbished claims by Mombasa Governor, Ali Hassan Joho, that he was being targeted by the government over drug trafficking.

Shahbal instead warned Joho to stop playing politics on war against drugs and concentrate on working for the people of Mombasa further pointing out that he had not been named nor anyone accused him of being a drug baron.

“Get on with the real job of doing your work, start by cleaning the city.”

The politician is now calling for the immediate arrest of the suspects as soon as possible saying that the problem was getting out of control in the region.

Elsewhere, Mombasa Senator, Hassan Omar, has faulted the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) governors over the poor voter registration turn out in opposition zones.

Speaking in Mombasa Island after flagging off his voter registration campaign caravan on Thursday, Omar claimed that majority of Kenyans are tired with CORD governors whom he accused of failing to meet voters’ expectations in the country.

Omar said that when Jubilee government was being accused of encouraging corruption in public offices, a section CORD governors were also busy looting public funds meant for development projects in their areas.

This comes just two days after Joho accused the national government of politicizing the war against drug trafficking in the Coast region and unfairly targeting him and other opposition leaders.

Joho further accused President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, of seeking mileage and votes using the war against drug cartels and peddlers something he termed as ‘unfortunate’ and not genuine.

The ODM governor termed the move as malicious saying he has been a target of unorthodox means in a bid to oust him as the Mombasa Governor.