Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto is on Sunday expected to grace the price-giving ceremony for the 34th edition of Rhino Charge at Nkoteyia Community Conservancy in Samburu County. Sources within the Presidency said Ruto spent his night in Samburu East.
Ruto is expected to grace the occasion shortly before proceeding to Narok for Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service at Soipan Primary School, Narok West, and Narok County where Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is also expected to grace.
The Rhino Charge is an annual off-road 4×4 competition held in Kenya that raises funds to support the activities of the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust, an NGO which works towards the conservation and protection of Kenya’s mountain range ecosystems, the so-called Water Towers.
The 10-hour grueling event took place on Saturday. On Friday, all the cars that took part were inspected to ensure that they comply with the rules of the game as well as adhere to safety standards.
On Sunday, the amount of money raised through the event will also be announced. This year, a total of 52 Rhino Charge cars registered and were given the go-ahead to participate in this year’s off-road competition that raises funds for environmental conservation work.
However, 14 pulled out for different reasons. Rhino Ark Executive Director Christian Lambrechts and Rhino Charge Clerk of Course Don White and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt flagged off the event.
Todt’s five-day mission to Kenya is part of his visit to East and Southern Africa to advocate for the effective implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, which aims to halve the number of victims on the road by 2030.
Atleast 3,300 people had registered on the online ticketing portal by the May 26 deadline to attend the event that’s one of the few to run with a national conservation purpose.
Every year, the Rhino Charge Organising Committee receives requests from various communities interested in hosting the world-renowned 4x 4 off-road competitions.
Last year, the event was held in Kajiado County. Six priority areas were identified where funds raised during the 33rd edition of the Rhino Charge event would go.
They include the protection of Kenya’s mountain forests, threatened habitats and their rich biodiversity and engagement and education of adjacent communities in conservation.
A total of Sh156 million was raised last year for the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust conservation activities. Another Sh5, 293,000 was also raised for the host Mosiro community from the vehicle access fee.
This year, part of the resources raised will also go to projects decided by the community. The annual Charge has mobilised over Sh 1.9 billion. Rhino Ark has to date built 650 km of electric fences and through the fencing programmes, which has protected over 80,000 families from the dangers of human-wildlife conflicts.
The fences are crucial in protecting the country’s critical mountain forests, known as water towers. The towers are vital ecosystems that support the country’s economic development and the well-being of most Kenyans.
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