This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
Published on June 5, 2020, Kenya's Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has expressed satisfaction with the Safari Rally's organisational progress as the country prepares to celebrate the return of the Safari Rally to the World Rally Championship (WRC).
The Safari Rally was listed among the 14 rounds of the WRC but its eagerly-awaited comeback was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Initially scheduled to run from July 16 to 19 around Nairobi and Naivasha, the event is now expected to take place in 2021.
CS Amina Mohamed led a team of senior Safari Rally officials on a special visit to the Safari Rally's Service Park in Naivasha on Friday to assess progress of the works. Speaking during the visit, she expressed confidence in the organising team's ability to complete the work within the stipulated time.
"In fact, we are ready to hold the Safari Rally even if it has been postponed," the CS said in an interview broadcast live on NTV's sports and entertainment show NTV Sasa on Friday. "I'm very happy with the preparations here and I'd like to thank all those involved. I will be back to assess the progress but I'm confident they will complete the work within the stipulated time," she added.
The Service Park will be the heart of the rally, from where the competition will start on a super special stage, and where the rally's nerve centre will be based for the duration of the event. Officials of the world motorsports governing body, FIA, have confidence in the organising team, with the competition's hardware expected to be on the ground at least one month ahead of the fresh date of the Safari Rally.
Phineas Kimathi, the WRC Safari Rally's Chief Executive Officer, and Event Director Jim Kahumbura, along with the Clerk of the Course Gurvir Bhabra, led other senior officials in Friday's site visit. Bhabra noted that the preparations will continue despite the postponement, with the team working under the pretext that Kenya's major event is going to be held in July.
