THE STANDARD POLITICS The battle to succeed Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has begun in earnest. Five aspirants are employing various strategies to woo the more than 500,000 voters. Businessman Suleiman Shahbal, who in 2013 and 2017 elections came second to Joho, is seeking to make a third stab at the governorship in elections next year. In the last five months, he has engaged in 22 meet-the-people tours in the six sub-counties of Mombasa. Yesterday, Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nasir, Kisauni’s Ali Mbogo, former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar and deputy governor William Kingi also declared interest in the governor race. Political analysts said the candidates’ financial muscle, upcountry vote support and party affiliations will determine their chances of succeeding Joho.