Safari Rally is back in Kenya after 19 year-hiatus. The global competition has attracted lots of enthusiasm among Kenyans, young and old as the event is expected to unite motorsports enthusiasts in enjoying the thrill of the rally while also enjoying Kenya’s scenic beauty across all the 6 designated rally routes. The event has thus attracted a host of benefits, which also include an influx of local tourists in Naivasha.
The WRC Safari Rally return is much anticipated by Kenyans, event organizers, rally drivers and motorsports manufacturers among them Hyundai, Toyota, Ford and Volkswagen as they wait to test their modern vehicles on the rough Kenyan terrain. The Kenyan government through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage is giving the event and its organizers all the necessary support to see to it that the WRC Safari Rally has successful return. The rally comeback after almost 2 decades cements Kenya’s position globally as the home of sports ranging from rugby, athletics, volleyball, motorsports among others.
The rally was supposed to make a comeback in the WRC in July 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected all sporting events across the world. Nearly all sporting activities in the year 2019-2020 were cancelled or rescheduled as crowding was attributed to be a big factor in increased Covid-19 infections in Sports.
Due to its rugged nature, Kenya’s welcoming, and sporting spirit and unforgiving terrain, the Safari Rally reputation is set to increase tourism activities into the country hence bringing in the much-needed foreign exchange for Kenya’s economy.
The spotlight is now on Naivasha town which is the main section of the rallying circuit. The town is strategically placed powering most of Kenya’s export trade activities. Naivasha is the home to the best, long lasting cut flowers in the world, grown under the sun and exported to the European and Asian markets. The demand for Kenya’s cut flowers in the export market destination increased to a staggering ksh. 108.7b in 2020 as compared to Ksh. 11.4 billion 2019. The town is also the world’s producer of premier source of quality horticultural produce grown by ordinary farmers, in natural and sustainable conditions. Kenya exported Ksh. 122.1b worth of Horticultural products in 2020 as compared to Ksh. 109.5b in 2019. Naivasha also plays host to East Africa’s largest inland container depot (ICD) that is revolutionizing the transport of bulk cargo to the region and other neighbouring countries.
The rally event is projected to inject approximately 6 billion into the Kenyan economy while also creating employment in the service industries such as caterers, local mechanics in the workshops and purchase of locally made products.
By taking advantage of the over 800 million viewers of the World Rally Championship, Kenya is bound to reap big through increased country brand visibility leading to increased inflow of tourists and increased FDI investment to Kenya. We are also bound to enjoy the increased popularity of Kenya as a sports, recreation, business, manufacturing, and education hub in Africa.
The Safari Rally comes barely a month to the onset of the Great Wildebeest migration which is heralded as one of the seven new wonders of the world. It is indeed a great time to be in Kenya to witness the transition from Man versus Machine to Animals versus Nature. The migration is an annual spectacle in Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti and boosts thousands of Animals that try to overcome tiredness, hungry crocodiles, lions, hyenas and wild dogs. The sports tourism and nature tourism will give Kenya an edge when it comes to Tourism in Africa and bring about development as part of the revenue earned can be used as a driver towards the realization of the Big 4 Agenda.
As world looks to Kenya this weekend, this means we have an opportunity to show the best of the Great Kenyan Experience. Kenya is the largest and most advanced economy in East and Central Africa making it the most strategic country to host an event of this magnitude. From the sights and scenes throughout the terrains, to the best of Made in Kenya products, to the marvels of infrastructure investments along the routes, to the energy that fuels the country among others, the WRC Safari Rally has comeback at the most opportune time. We call upon each one of us to support the success of this global event. Kenya is truly Africa’s rising star and is reflected by the unity and diversity of its people.
Karibu and Make It Kenya!
Dr. Wilfred Marube, CEO
Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency
@wmarube