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 at Hell's Gate National Park.
According to experts, the event saw hundreds of visitors defecating in the open and littering the spectators' stages, posing a significant threat to the park's ecosystem and wildlife.
Francis Muthui, chairman of Friends of Lake Naivasha, expressed concerns over the poor sanitation in the park, stating that 'there were very few mobile toilets to serve the hundreds of people.'
He added that tonnes of litter had been left in various corners of the park, raising fears of their effects on wildlife.
Additionally, Silas Wanjala, secretary of the Lake Naivasha Riparian Association and a bird expert, pointed to noise pollution as a major threat to vultures in the park.
Wanjala stated that 'the noise pollution mainly around Fischers Tower could lead to miscarriage among the mammals.'
However, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials and the rally organisers disputed these claims, stating that all safety measures had been met despite the number of visitors overwhelming the staff.
