Sports CS Salim Mvurya declares Kenya ready to host WRC Safari Rally

Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has declared Kenya ready to host this year's World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally while promising changes for the residents of Nakuru County. 

This year's Safari will be flagged off at City Hall on Thursday 20 March running through the weekend to Sunday 23 March in Naivasha. 

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In a meeting with the County leadership and other stakeholders held at the event's service park in Naivasha, KWS while on a familiarisation tour, Mvurya, bombarded with grievances, says all the raised issues have been put into consideration and would be handled accordingly. 

Top on the leadership's complaints are sanitation, environmental conservation and job opportunities for locals. 

"This is the foundation meeting, the first since the WRC made a return," Mvurya started adding that he was happy to receive suggestions on how to improve the hosting of the event from the local leadership. 

The CS has directed that there be formidable youth participation in many of the activities. "The youth of this area should be given priority for the short-term jobs available.

I have also directed that going forward a local-based lower level organising team should work with the organisers to resolve issues on the ground like environmental protection and enlisting of service providers among other issues that can be decentralised."

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With Naivasha bursting at the seams whenever Safari action rolls around, local leaders have called on the organisers to find a way to ease traffic by making alternative public roads. 

Mvurya reiterated the event's benefits for the country beyond sports, calling on all involved to safeguard Kenya's 'best rally' tag. "We want to maintain Kenya's profile because, beyond the sport, the Safari does a great job in propagating the country for investment and trade among others."