This archive report was first published on 5 November 2019.
The hills around Meru County will reverberate with the roar of turbocharged machines when the KCB Meru Rally gets underway in Nkubu this weekend.
Meru County Governor Hon. Kiraitu Murungi will flag off the rally at the KCB Nkubu Branch on Saturday.
Scrutineering will take place at Nkubu Heritage Hotel Gardens on Friday, with drivers embarking on a recce from 6am to 6pm to familiarize themselves with the rally route.
According to Clerk of the course, Hellen Kagendo Shiri, the rally will run on 80% public roads, with the designated spectator viewing point based at the ASK Showground in Meru.
Shiri emphasized that spectators are not encouraged on the rally route when the stages are live, as a designated spectator viewing point has been set aside for all at the ASK Showground.
"We have a total of 500 safety Marshalls along the route on the rally day and half the number during recce," Shiri noted.
Additionally, 100 police officers and traffic police will be deployed to ensure a smooth-running event, along with 100 personnel from the Meru Youth Service and boda boda operators who have been briefed on safety.
Despite torrential rains pounding the route course over the past month, Shiri assured that roads in Meru are all-weather and passable during the event.
The rally will traverse stages around Kenya Re at Meru Forest, the ASK Showground, Kinoru Tea factory, Ntugi, Muungania, and Kiraitu Road, with a 5km spectator stage repeated thrice for fans to catch action throughout the day.
The event has attracted over 20 drivers, including series champion Carl "Flash" Tundo, log leader Baldev Chager, African Champion Manvir Baryan, and Onkar Singh Rai, as well as homeboys Eric Bengi, Issa Amwari, and Job Njiru.
The KCB Meru Rally is being organized by Rally Sports Club (RSC) under the chairmanship of Phineas Kimathi.
