Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has affirmed that the county was fully prepared to host the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally that is coming to the country for the fourth time in a row.
Governor Kihika said the county was ready to play its role in boosting domestic tourism, adding that this year’s event was historical as it also marks 71 years since the WRC was first launched in the country.
In 2021 the county signed a pact to keep the event in the World Rally Championship calendar until 2026.
While noting that her administration was committed to promoting sports tourism Ms Kihika observed that Nakuru was once the spiritual home of sports and Langa Langa circuit, which she said was famous for bike and single-seater car races while the Rift Valley Motorsports Club at Solai and Mai Mahiu circuits still host kart racing, predominantly for young people.
In major changes since the event returned to Kenya in 2021 after a 19-year break, the ceremonial start of the iconic event has been moved from Uhuru Park and relocated to its traditional Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) venue where over 50 cars will be flagged off.
The 71st edition of the WRC Safari that also reverts to its traditional Easter holiday dates is scheduled from March 28 to March 31.
“The WRC is part of our heritage and we are ready to hold a memorable Safari Rally this year. The WRC team needs to fully involve Nakuru County in the preparations for the event and to ensure that our people fully benefit from the event in terms of casual employment, offering catering, entertainment and waste management among others. We will offer the best hospitality to rally enthusiasts,” Governor Kihika assured.
Speaking after holding a meeting with a multi-agency team preparing for the WRC Safari Rally led by the Secretary Administration for Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts Mr Evans Achoki and Safari Rally Kenya Chief Executive Officer Mr Charles Gacheru, the Governor expressed delight that the event is expected to inject Sh7 billion in the Kenyan economy.
“Iam pleased to learn that foreign drivers will come in 10 days before the rally and after the rally they have already planned to visit tourist attraction sites in the country. Bearing in mind that each team comprises a crew of at least 100 persons, and since three manufacturer teams are coming, that means more than 300 rally personnel will be around not to mention foreign journalists and rally enthusiasts. It will also be a boon for the hospitality industry,” noted the Governor.
The Safari is the third round of the 2024 World Rally Championships after this month’s Rallye Monte (January 25-28) and Rally Sweden (15-18 February).
The fame of sports in Nakuru, Kihika noted, extends beyond motorsport with Nakuru Boxing Club said to have produced legends like Philip Waruinge, 1972 Olympics Silver Medalist and first Kenyan to turn professional, his brother Sammy Mbogua and 1978 World Amateur Boxing Championships winner Steve Muchoki.
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) has announced its 3rd round sponsorship of Sh195 million for the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally which will also support two local rally drivers Nikhil Sachania and Karan Patel.
Ms Kihika disclosed that her administration would consider converting one Technical Vocational Education Training institution into a Centre of Excellence to train top notch mechanics and prepare the younger generation in motor sports.
The Governor hailed the organizers of the Safari Rally for the selection of spectators’ stages which she said will help showcase to local and international visitors’ spectacular sites where they could also get to sample Naivasha’s hospitality and experience the Kenya safari as they troop to different spectator points.
The Governor underscored the importance of the approved rallying routes, saying the rally drivers will have a great experience driving in the wild and sometimes having to stop to give way to wild animals.
She said the county government will continue to upgrade the necessary infrastructure to enhance visitors’ experience along all the rally routes.
Governor Kihika said the County was working with the National Government in setting up special points for streaming the rally live throughout the country to help every Kenyan have a piece of the rally.
Ms Kihika was satisfied with the service venue in Naivasha and said they were working with the Transport Ministry to ensure traffic on the rally routes will be managed better than last year and observed that they had learnt vital lessons from last year’s event.
The Safari Rally was first held in 1953, as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1960 it was renamed the East African Safari Rally and kept that name until 1974, when it became the Kenya Safari Rally. It then evolved to the current modern-day WRC.
Safari Rally is currently the most popular event on the WRC calendar alongside the 1000 Lakes of Finland and Monte Carlo.
Mr Gacheru explained that the calendar has changed slightly after they requested Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) promoter to return the Safari Rally to the Easter weekend as it used to be previously and that the schools will be closed during these dates.
The Safari Rally Kenya Chief Executive Officer noted that last year’s Safari was flagged off at Uhuru Park in an attempt to accommodate more spectators.
Uhuru Park has previously been run as the Safari’s Super Special Stage during the days of the FIA African Rally Championship.
“The cars will be flagged off from KICC on March 28 before heading to Kasarani Stadium for the SSS (Super Special Stage) which will mark the first speed test of the event. We expect more crowds to throng the Kasarani SSS venue given that it will be a free Easter weekend for the fans,” Mr Gacheru indicated.
In a bid to manage the traffic quagmire in Naivasha, the CEO also noted that the Safari program will finish at the Hell’s Gate Power Stage.
Previously, Hell’s Gate has coincided with the WRC TV live program to award the podium finishers after the Power Stage, with the prize-giving proper being held at Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute (KWSTI) in Naivasha.
“We don’t want a repeat of a scenario where rally cars return back to the service park area for prize giving. This year, everything will culminate at Hell’s Gate and this is a deliberate move to manage the chaotic traffic situation that has been witnessed in Naivasha since the return of WRC status,” observed Mr Gacheru.
On competitive stages, he noted that the organization has changed the Sleeping Warrior by moving its flying finish further ahead whilst the Kedong stage will be run in reverse direction.
He added: “Apart from minor changes made to the Sleeping Warrior and Kedong speed tests, the rest of the competitive runs will remain intact. The Wildlife Institute will continue hosting Rally HQs and Service Park. World rally teams have since adjudged Kedong as the toughest stage of Safari given its notorious soft volcanic ash soil terrain which has redefined the toughness of the fabled Kenyan round on its return to the global arena.
Nakuru County Tourism Association Chairman David Mwangi noted that hosting of events of WRC Safari Rally calibre was a source of direct investment as well as a source of additional income for tourism.
He said that direct investments in Naivasha will be accrued from hotels, leisure, fuel consumption, transport facilities, temporary employment and much more.
Mr Mwangi pointed out that many hotels were still under construction in Naivasha at present as investors target more domestic and international tourists after the world governing body, FIA, extended the hosting of the WRC status event in Kenya to 2026.
Businesses are set to reap big as drivers and more fans flock to Naivasha, in Nakuru County.
By Anne Mwale
