This archive report was first published on 9 January 2020.
On July 2020, the Hell's Gate National Park in Naivasha will host the prestigious World Rally Championship, attracting between 80,000-100,000 visitors and expected to enhance domestic tourism.
According to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, the routes for the race have been carefully chosen to avoid collision with animals, minimizing the impact on the wildlife ecosystem.
However, environmentalists have raised concerns about the well-being of wild animals, questioning the motive of the event.
Despite these concerns, Balala is confident that the event will have minimal effects on the wildlife and ecosystem, citing the careful planning and execution of the event.
The organizers have also settled on the Kenya Wildlife Service – KWS training institute in Naivasha as the main service center for the rally fans, with plans to expand the current graduation square and use the nearby Sanctuary farm to host more of the rally equipment and machinery.
Additionally, a waterfront in Lake Naivasha is set to be constructed, which will be used during the event.
The event is expected to cost Ksh 6 billion shillings, according to Kenya Motorsport Federation Chairman Phineas Kimathi.
