Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal has picked Selina Maitha Lewa as his running mate in the race to succeed Governor Hassan Joho.
Selina, 45, is the sister to former Cabinet Minister and Kisauni MP Karisa Maitha, who died in 2014.
She will be unveiled on Thursday, the Star has learnt.
Shahbal has described Selina as an able team player with a strong work ethic.
“She is self-motivated with outstanding management and planning skills,” he said.
Shahbal lost twice to Joho in 2013 and 2017.
Joho’s running mate in 2013 was Hazel Katana and in 2017 he picked William Kingi.
Katana and Kingi are from the Mijikenda community, which is the single largest voting bloc in Mombasa, followed by Kambas and Luos.
Selina is a distinguished administrator who has immense expertise in administrative and management work for over 20 years.
She served as Jomvu deputy county commissioner in 2019 before being transferred to Machakos in 2020.
Before her appointment in 2019, Selina served as a personal assistant to the coast regional commissioner in 2018.
Between 2015 and 2018, she served as Kilifi North deputy county commissioner and in 2014 she was the assistant county commissioner for Kilifi- Kikambala.
She was also the Bahari district officer, Kilifi, in 2012-2013 and a district officer for Lango Baya, Malindi (2009 - 2012).
Selina was appointed into the defunct provincial administration in 2004 where she served as district officer stationed in Kiambu district until 2006.
She was transferred to Msambweni in 2007 and later Narok Central in the same capacity.
Selina was involved in developing and implementing the dissemination of government policies to the county levels.
She chaired the subcounty intelligence security meetings, peacebuilding and conflict resolution initiatives, implementation and management of government programmes.
Before joining government, Selina worked as a programmes coordinator at the Palm International Organisation, an NGO at the Coast.
She was involved in creating awareness on the importance of palm tree products and by-products locally, regionally and internationally to uplift the livelihoods of the coastal people.
Selina holds a degree in social sciences from Dr Babasaheb University in India and a diploma in International Airline and Hotel management from Trade Wings Institute.
Shahbal's campaign manager Idris Abdulrahman said they settled on Selina because of her experience and expertise in government administration.
“She has the blend of the corporate world and government,” Abdulrahman said.
He said Selina's vast experience in administration, will complement Shahbal’s, a professional banker and businessman.
“Shahbal comes from the corporate world, he will concentrate on reviving the economy and attracting investment. Selina will be handling the administrative duties,” he said.
Abdulrahman denied the reports that their choice of running mate was to attract the populous Mijikenda voting bloc.
Abdulrahman said Selina will work with Shahbal's wife, Rahma Shahbal to push the women's agenda in their administration.
In a brief interview with the Star, Selina said she is ready to serve Mombasa but people should wait for the official unveiling
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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