Kenya Is Ready To Host The 2025 WRC Safari Rally

_{Front row from left: WRC Safari Rally CEO Charles Gacheru, Sports C.S Salim Mvurya and Sports P.S Peter Tum address the media during the launch of the 2025 WRC Safari Rally Kenya at the Wildlife Research Training Institute’s Service Park in Naivasha on Tuesday January 28, 2025. PHOTO/IMG}

NAIVASHA, Kenya- The Government on Tuesday declared that the country is ready to host the third leg of the 2025 World Rally Championship, the Safari Rally, slated for Naivasha on March 20-23.

Fifty drivers are expected to battle it out in the global showpiece that will traverse the rough terrains of Nakuru County and it’s environs.

At the same time, Kenya will be out to maintain its solid status as the most watched circuit of the global motorsports championship that made a return to the country in 2020 after a 19-year hiatus.

To ensure there will be more millions of eye balls in the Kenyan leg this season, the government will keep focus on the multitudes who will not be able to make it to Naivasha to engage in the competition physically.

This will be done through setting up of multiple viewing centers at various designated locations and a Public Village at the Morendat Farm, along the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway. 

This will ensure the public will be able to hear, see and have a feel of the drivers and their roaring road warriors.

“We are now fully prepared to host this year’s Safari Rally. Kenya is coming in as a very strong team following the vast experience gathered in organizing the championship for the last four years.

We have still maintained Naivasha as the designated location for the rally because of its challenging terrains and the welcoming hospitality,” Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya told sportsdesk.co.ke during the official launch at the historic Wildlife Research Training Institute’s Service Park in Naivasha on Tuesday.

Mvurya is grateful that more Kenyans are participating in the championship every season in various capacities, from drivers to logistic and hospitality managers among others.

The C.S reiterated that the Safari Rally has built the country’s profile which has not only been key for the competition but in other fronts like on economy and tourism.

_{Sports C.S Salim Mvurya address the media during the launch of the 2025 WRC Safari Rally Kenya at the Wildlife Research Training Institute’s Service Park in Naivasha on Tuesday January 28, 2025. PHOTO/IMG}

“Through the rally, Kenya has been identified as a solid investment destination,” stated the C.S who pledged to ensure there is also a level playing ground for the local community in terms of participation during the rally.

He also said he will ensure there is proper execution of sanitation and environmental conservation during the championship.

“As we aim for the lofty international reach, we also wants to ensure there is impact on the local communities around,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, the global competition will be one of a kind this year in that it will act both as Kenyan leg for the prestigious Africa Rally Championship (ARC) and the opening round of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) series.

It is on this note that the local and regional drivers have been encouraged to seize the opportunity to register for the Safari Rally in droves so as to have a feel of the greatest motorsports extravaganza on earth.

“This is the best chance for speedsters in Kenya, Uganda , Tanzania and even in Southern part of Africa to utilise the contest to prove their metle.

“As Government, we will help local drivers to enlist for the WRC2 and WRC3 categories. This will beef up the numbers at the same time give the drivers a chance to experience the motorsport extravaganza,” WRC Safari Rally CEO, Charles Gacheru underlined.

While reiterating on the focus on increased viewership this season, Gacheru added: “We are trying our best to ensure Kenyans enjoy the rally more this season than other previous editions. Our focus will be on how the multitude who cannot make it to Naivasha for the championship can keep along with the contest.

_{WRC Safari Rally CEO Charles Gacheru, Sports C.S Salim Mvurya and Sports P.S Peter Tum address the media during the launch of the 2025 WRC Safari Rally Kenya at the Wildlife Research Training Institute’s Service Park in Naivasha on Tuesday January 28, 2025. PHOTO/IMG}

There will be big screens at designated venues for them to watch and enjoy the show. Also, last year, we offered free to air feeds to local channels but this year, we are extending this to media across East Africa for more coverage.”

This year’s rally will start with shakedown on March 19 at the Sleeping Warrior. Official flag off will be done by President William Ruto at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) on March 20 before the drivers move to Kasarani tackle the opening Super Special Stage.

The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship Series – WRC

23 – 26 January:         Rallye Monte-Carlo  (Monaco)

13 – 16 February:       Rally Sweden            

20 – 23 March:            Safari Rally Kenya                

24 – 27 April:               Rally Islas Canarias (Spain)

15 – 18 May:               Vodafone Rally de Portugal 

05 – 08 June:               Rally Italia Sardegna

26 – 29 June:               EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 

17 – 20 July:                Delfi Rally Estonia    

31 July – 03 Aug:        Secto Rally Finland

28 – 31 August:            Rally del Paraguay

11 – 14 September:     Rally Chile Bio Bío

16 – 19 October:         Central European Rally

06 – 09 November:      FORUM8 Rally Japan

27 – 30 November:      Rally Saudi Arabia