This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
Published on July 5, 2019, the Safari Rally is set to get underway at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, with the sound of turbo-charged engines replacing football chants.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's commitment to the Safari Rally is evident, with his Chief of Staff, Nzoika Waita, competing in the event behind the wheels of a Mitsubishi Evo.
Over Sh200 million has been disbursed from the Treasury to support the rally, with Sports Principal Secretary Kirimi Kaberia driving the route-opening car in the Super Special Stage at Kasarani.
A strong delegation of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) is in town, led by Michele Mouton, a legendary driver who thrilled Safari fans in her heyday.
The FIA team will report back to Paris, and Kenyans will be waiting with bated breath to see if the Safari will be included in the world series next year.
Phineas Kimathi, the WRC Safari Project chief executive, and his team have endured many odds to stay within the FIA's strict compliance time-lines.
The Safari Rally offers the continent's best hope for a world-class event, with its amazing scenery, challenging terrain, unrivalled hospitality, and fantastic weather.
Kenya has done it before, and will do it again. The FIA will wonder what took them so long before reinstating the Safari in their WRC calendar!
