CS Ababu Namwamba promises ‘Kenyan-flavored’ 2024 Safari Rally

Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has called on motorsport enthusiasts across the nation to be on the lookout for a distinctly Kenyan-flavored 2024 Safari Rally.

The 2024 Safari Rally is slated for March 28-31 at its traditional venue in Naivasha.

The CS aims at demystifying the myth that the rally is limited to international drivers, leaving the talented Kenyan drivers behind.

Speaking on Monday 12 during the official flagging off of the rally at the Kencom Grounds, the CS outlined ambitious plans to ensure the rally is dominated by Kenyan drivers.

“We do not want to have a rally that is foreigners-dominated where we have the foreign drivers flying in, spend three days with us, and then fly out and that is the end of it. We want to get back to those days when Kenyan drivers competed well,” he stated.

To make what seems like a far-fetched dream come true, the forward-thinking CS announced plans to revamp the less vibrant Kenya National Rallying Championship (KNRC), as well as start a rallying school which will in turn feed more drivers to the Kenyan team.

All these, according to CS Ababu are in line with his vision of ensuring a continuous pipeline of talent.

“With bigger support from our sponsors, we look forward to having publicity, media engagement, and more eyeballs. It is why we are talking about a stronger KNRC, rallying schools to serve as feeders to the Kenyan team,” he disclosed.

At the heart of the CS is a rally that will be responsive to the current challenges which include economic constraints and climate change. He promised that the 2024 edition would champion solutions to the challenges.

“The green agenda for this rally is important. We have several targets to continue the legacy of environment conservation. We are glad to confirm that we started a program to green the spectator stage in Kasarani. We have planted about 60,000 trees already and we aim higher,” he offered.

Ababu further noted that the "Hustlers' Bazaar" initiative launched during the 2022 rally will be more vibrant this year.

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It will aim to offer locals a chance to reap the economic benefits of the rally. In addition, the CS pointed out that the team will be bolstered by the appointment of additional officials who will be in charge of security, traffic, social media, community and public liaison, commercialization, and merchandising.

“We want to see a rally that is making a difference in the lives of the people of Kenya. We want to transform the lives of the people of Kenya from the very bottom of the socio-economic pyramid and that is why we have interventions like the Hustler Bazaar to ensure that the big money trickles down to the pockets of Kenyan people,” he concluded.

Two of the spectator stages at the Safari Rally have been modified as organizers prepare for an exciting round. The end of the Sleeping Warrior Section has been moved further down the stage.

The Kedong Stage will now be run in reverse order from what was done last year.

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Apart from minor changes to the Sleeping Warrior and Kedong stages, the rest of the Competitive Sections will remain the way they were in last year's Safari Rally, running around the nerve center at the Wildlife Research and Training Institute in Naivasha.