Ababu Namwamba’s Safari Rally promise
In what ranks as a significant development for motorsport enthusiasts, the Safari Rally is set to remain a prominent fixture in the World Rally Championship (WRC) circuit.
In collaboration with the WRC Safari Rally team, the government is undertaking concerted efforts to build a sustainable ecosystem around this iconic event, ensuring its longevity and impact.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Hon. Ababu Namwamba highlighted the imperative of infusing the rally with the quintessential Kenyan spirit reminiscent of its golden years.
He articulated the need to transition from the current scenario, where foreign drivers transiently grace Kenyan soil, to an era where Kenyan drivers participate and compete at the highest level, like in the old days.
Central to this vision is bolstering the Kenya National Rally Championship.
“We need to have a stronger Kenya National Rally Championship as a feeder pipeline,” he said while advocating for the creation of a rally school catering to budding enthusiasts, starting from karting and progressing to buggies, which would allow for “developing rally talent from the earliest age possible,”
Furthermore, Namwamba emphasised the rally’s role in addressing contemporary challenges, particularly regarding environmental sustainability. He outlined ambitious plans to integrate a “greening agenda,” to continue the legacy program of environmental responsiveness.
He confirmed that the program which aims to green the Kasarani Spectator stage is already underway with 60,000 trees having been planted aiming to mitigate the adverse effects of sun, wind, and dust on rally attendees.
Namwamba stated wanting to, “turn it into a botanical garden to improve the experience.” A project they will partner with KCB to achieve.
Beyond its sporting significance, the Safari Rally is envisioned as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation, aligning with the government’s bottom-up economic agenda. CS Namwamba explained, “the hustler’s bazaar where Kenyan traders can make some money within that rally ecosystem, artists can perform and be part of that whole experience and make sure that the big money that comes into the event trickles down into the pockets of ordinary people.” This would ensure the event’s economic windfall trickles to the grassroots level.
Jim Kahumbura, the Event Director, highlighted the exhilarating changes slated for this year’s WRC Safari Rally. The relocation of the start to the iconic KICC building on March 28th, 2024, aims to centralize the viewing experience, allowing fans to witness the excitement from the city’s heart. Notably, access to the Kasarani stage is free, allowing enthusiasts to witness the action firsthand along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway as cars make their way to Naivasha. Kahumbura enthused, “Anyone who wants to watch the cars can stand along the road and watch them as they drive by.”
To enhance fan engagement, drivers will partake in meet-and-greet sessions at Buffalo Mall en route to Naivasha, offering enthusiasts an opportunity for autographs and interaction. Kahumbura also announced a logistical adjustment, moving the reward ceremony to Hells Gate, doubling as the final power stage, to avert traffic congestion experienced in previous editions.
Also read: Common forgeries used by Kenyans to secure government jobs