This archive report was first published on 2 July 2021.
Published on July 2, 2021, the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally has left a trail of environmental destruction in its wake at Hell's Gate National Park in Naivasha.
Experts warn that the event has caused massive pollution in the park, with hundreds of visitors defecating in the open and littering the spectators' stages. This could have adverse effects on the hundreds of animals and birds as well as the ecosystem of the park.
Francis Muthui, chairman of Friends of Lake Naivasha, pointed to poor sanitation in the park as one of the major challenges during the global event. 'There were very few mobile toilets to serve the hundreds of people,' he said.
According to Muthui, tonnes of litter had been left in various corners of the park, raising fears of their effects on wildlife. 'The rally organisers and KWS did their part in outsourcing staff to collect garbage but they were overwhelmed and could not cover the whole park,' he said.
Meanwhile, Lake Naivasha Riparian Association Secretary Silas Wanjala highlighted noise pollution as a major threat to vultures in the park. Wanjala, a bird expert, said acres of wildlife pastures had been destroyed during the event as revellers drove off-road and the organisers dug up new roads in the park.
'The noise pollution mainly around Fischers Tower could lead to miscarriage among the mammals,' Wanjala warned. He added that the repercussions would be felt in months to come, with some vultures facing extinction due to the noise pollution.
However, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials and the rally organisers disputed these claims, saying all safety measures had been met despite the number of visitors overwhelming the staff. A senior KWS officer said they had put in place all the necessary measures during and after the event.
'We had ample toilets and dust bins around the park, the music was controlled and we managed to collect 99 per cent of the litter,' the officer said.
