By Peter Ochieng
President William Ruto has flagged off the World Rally Championships (WRC) Safari Rally 2024 competition, which starts today 28th March, 2024 to Sunday, 31st March.
The launch at the Kenyatta International Conventional Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, signalled the start of a busy Easter weekend that will see drivers try to outshine each other on the dusty terrains in some parts of the country.
Local drivers will today come up against their foreign counterparts in a special show in Nairobi’s Kasarani area, before heading to Naivasha, Nakuru county, where the event takes place proper.
Tommorrow, the drivers will be at Loldia, Geothermal and Kedong for two rounds. Then on Saturday, motor racing fans in Soysambu, Elementaita and Sleeping Warior will witness cars speed off for two rounds.
A thrilling end is expected on Sunday, when a 36-kilometre terrain starts at Malewa, then to Oserengoni before the grand finale at Hells Gate for two laps.
Speaking at the KICC on Thursday, President Ruto said the event is a special Easter gift.
“The Prestigious motor racing event comes as a truly special Easter holiday gift to millions of families to bond over a thrilling spectacle,” he said.
“You really can’t find a rally as tough, compelling, beautiful and rewarding as the one in Kenya,” Ruto added.
He said his administration had conducted world-class preparations to ensure everything runs smoothly from start to end.
Five-times Safari Rally champion Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo, Karani Patel, Hamza Anwar, Aakif Virani and Sommah Vohra are among Kenyan drivers in the competition.
The event is sponsored by Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).