Africa-Press – Kenya. Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has confirmed that 50 drivers have registered for the March 12–15 WRC Safari Rally in Nakuru County.
Speaking on Friday at the Talanta Plaza in Upper Hill, Nairobi, Mvurya assured rally stakeholders and fans that all systems are firmly in place for a smooth and successful run.
“We are now ready to host the Safari Rally this year, and I can confirm that all the requirements have been met,” Mvurya said.
The Cabinet Secretary revealed that key logistical milestones have already been ticked off, a clear indication that the world-renowned rally is firmly on track.
“Tyres have already been brought into the country, which shows that the rally is now,” he added.
Mvurya confirmed the strong level of interest from the global rally fraternity, noting that the entry list is steadily taking shape.
“So far, 50 drivers have already confirmed participation,” he said.
With Kenya’s current hosting rights for the prestigious WRC round set to lapse this year, Mvurya disclosed that discussions are already underway to secure an extension.
“We are looking at an engagement of five years. There is goodwill from the FIA and other players,” he noted.
Looking beyond 2026, Mvurya said there are plans to diversify the rally’s footprint in other counties upon the FIA go ahead.
“After this event, the WRC and the oversight team will be mapping out Kenya so that we have more options in subsequent events,” he explained.
“This will give opportunities to other regions to unlock their potential.”
In another boost to preparations, Mvurya confirmed that the volunteer recruitment drive has officially gone live, opening the door for motorsport enthusiasts to be part of the Safari Rally experience.
“The volunteer portal is now open for 1,200 people to help the event organisers host a successful rally,” he said.
WRC Safari Rally CEO Charles Gacheru echoed the Cabinet Secretary’s sentiments, affirming that the local organising committee has cleared all critical technical and administrative hurdles set by the sport’s global governing bodies.
“We have met all the FIA and WRC promoter deadlines. All documents are in, all road books have been checked, all recce books have been checked, all maps are ready, and all our itineraries have been checked and approved,” Gacheru said.
He added that the event has already received clearance from the Kenya Motorsport Federation, with final approval now expected from the FIA.
“The event has been given a visa by the Kenya Motorsport Federation. The next one will be by the FIA,” he noted.
This year’s Safari Rally, however, comes with a significant twist.
For the first time since Safari’s return to the WRC series, Nakuru County will host the entire rally, following a decision by the FIA to compress the event into a four-day format.
“The big change this year is that we will host the rally only in Nakuru County. This is after the FIA compressed the rally to a four-day event,” Gacheru explained.
“We normally started on Wednesday and ran to Sunday, but now we start on Thursday. This means we will not have the rally in Nairobi.”
As anticipation builds, Gacheru also issued a rallying call to fans travelling to Nakuru, urging them to prioritise safety on the roads.
“We call on all fans to observe traffic rules and regulations as they travel to Nakuru County,” he said.
