Excitement in the air as Naivasha attracts thousands of visitors, thanks to Safari Rally

Jun 21, 2023 - 19:43

One of Kenya's best Safari Rally drivers Carl 'Flash' Tundo (right) with his navigator Tim Jessop pose with their rally car, VW Polo R5 during a past WRC sponsorship event in Naivasha. Tundo will be leading the Kenyan Rally drivers during this year's championships slated for Thursday, June 22nd through Sunday, June 25th

Naivasha, Wednesday, June 21, 2023,

KNA by Mabel Keya-Shikuku / Erastus Gichohi

Excitement has filled the lakeside town of Naivasha, as local and international tourists flock into the town to witness the iconic World Safari Rally Championships (WRC) which kicks off on Thursday.

President William Ruto visited the town which is the nerve Centre of the rally on Wednesday and flagged off the participants who are doing their reconnaissance tour on the routes that will be used for the rally which is scheduled to be flagged off on Thursday in Nairobi.

Speaking to the media in Naivasha on Wednesday, the Chairman of Nakuru Tourism Association David Mwangi said hotels in Naivasha, Gilgil and Elementaita are fully booked for the entire week, thanks to this world class event.

He said things are looking better for the businesses as compared to last year when the tourism industry was still reeling from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic and the world hadn`t opened up much.

“There is an increase in number of both local and international tourists ahead of the rally and the event has had a positive impact on the hospitality and tourism sector with most of the facilities employing more casual workers to cater for their visitors,” he said.

Mwangi said the event has put Naivasha on the world map being the host of the World event for the third time in a row and the rally enthusiasts will also have a chance to explore more tourism sites such as Lake Naivasha with its tasty fish.

Naivasha town which is a renowned tourism and conferencing destination boasts of over 3,000 bed units in the hospitality facility.

Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mutua Kisilu said the sub county multi- sectorial security team under his chair have assembled a contingent of security apparatus to ensure a smooth and successful event.

“We have beefed up security in the lakeside town with more General Service Unit Officers (GSU) added to the list. Security officers will man main areas and routes that the rally cars will be using,” Kisilu said.

He confirmed that more visitors were expected at the WRC event this year but all security measures have been put in place ahead of the kickoff on Thursday and added that the Government move to negotiate the return of the rally to the country and especially Naivasha has boosted the tourism in the area.

To this end, the DCC has urged rally enthusiasts to come in large numbers to experience the exhilaration of the moment as Safari Rally marks its 70th Anniversary.

Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Cabinet Secretary (CS), Peninah Malonza while in Naivasha last week was quoted saying over 800,000 rally enthusiasts are expected in Naivasha for the WRC event, adding that the rally has marketed and put Naivasha on the world map.

She urged Kenyans to take advantage of the area`s warm weather to enjoy this international event. Naivasha is the nerve Centre of the rally which will take place form Thursday June 22 to Sunday, June 25. The rally drivers will race along a 355 kilometer route with various spectator stages along the routes.

The government has injected Sh1.4 billion towards the rally competition. Other sponsors who have come on board include Safaricom, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Cooperation for Africa and Overseas (CFAO) motors, among others.

This year`s event was historical as it also marks 70 years since the inception of WRC into the country. Veteran Kenyan rally drivers such as Carl `Flash` Tundo who is the chair of the organising committee, Phenius Kimathi who is also the chair of the Kenya motorsport Association and famous female rally drivers such as Pauline Sheghu will also be taking part in this year`s event.

Kenya is privileged and proud to host the event which is one of the Only 13 such world events that take place in the globe and will be watched by over two billion people worldwide which is incredible branding for the country.

The iconic rally has attracted 34 entries ready for a showdown. The 2022 WRC Safari rally champion Kalle Rovanpera will be the star of the event and stiff competition between him and the 2021 winner Sebastian Ogier is expected to raise some adrenaline among the rally enthusiasts.

The government has also earmarked various points for small businesses to market their merchandise to give the rally a ‘hustler feel’. The rally organisers have in the past banned hawking along busy roads to stem high traffic jam.

The Safari Rally was first held in 1953, as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1960 it was renamed the East African Safari Rally and kept that name until 1974, when it became the Kenya Safari Rally. It then evolved to the current modern-day WRC.

Courtesy ; K. N. A