This archive report was first published on 28 June 2021.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has secured Kenya's hosting rights for the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally until 2026, marking a significant milestone for the country's motorsport industry.
Speaking at the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute in Naivasha, Nakuru County, President Kenyatta announced that the Government had secured the hosting rights after years of intense lobbying and preparations.
"It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have agreed with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the World Rally Championship (WRC) to continue hosting the Safari Rally in Kenya every year until 2026," the President said.
As part of the announcement, President Kenyatta also revealed that the Government would immediately start preparations for next year's WRC Safari Rally, committing the required financial investment towards another successful championship in Kenya.
"In this regard, my administration will immediately start preparations for the next Safari Rally event, and I commit the required financial investment towards another successful championship in Kenya," he said.
The 2021 WRC Safari Rally, which was won by French driver Sebastien Ogier, was a significant success, with the event demonstrating Kenya's ability to host global events despite the logistical challenges posed by Covid-19.
President Kenyatta reminded Kenyans that he had fulfilled his 2013 promise to bring back the WRC Safari Rally after a 19-year absence, and expressed his pride in the country's ability to stage a remarkable 2021 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally.
"I am proud to say that after a 19-year-long pause, the Safari Rally is back home! Our efforts have paid off. We have staged a remarkable 2021 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally that has challenged both man and machine, and which will be remembered for many years to come," he said.
