This archive report was first published on 27 September 2019.
On September 27, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the return of the Safari Rally to the World Rally Championship calendar, a move he attributed to the efforts of his administration in the last seven years.
"Before my Administration assumed office in 2013, I made a promise to the people of Kenya, to return the Safari Rally back to the International Automobile Federation World Rally Championship family. This process has taken us seven years," Kenyatta said in a statement.
The Safari Rally, first held in Kenya in 1953, was initially a commemoration of the coronation of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It traversed the three East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania before being admitted to the prestigious International Automobile Federation (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC) in 1973.
However, the event was dropped from the World Rally Championship in 2002 and relegated to the African Rally Championship (ARC). The return of the Safari Rally to the World Rally Championship calendar marks a significant milestone for Kenya and Africa, with the rally set to be held from July 16 to 19, 2020.
President Kenyatta thanked the President of the International Automobile Federation, Jean Todt, the World Rally Championship Promoter, Oliver Ciesla, the Chairman of the Kenya Motorsports Federation, Phineas Kimathi, and the Directors and Technical teams for their efforts in making the event a success.
