Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya has affirmed that the country is ready to host the 2025 WRC Safari Rally in March.
He confirmed the news as he was speaking at the WRC Safari Rally headquarters in Naivasha on his induction site visit for the global event slated for March 20-23.
Safari Rally will be the third round of the 2025 WRC series, following Monaco and Sweden.
Mvurya and a team from Kenya’s sports ministry met with the Oversight and Local Organizing committees of the 2025 WRC Safari Rally, local leaders, and sponsors.
“We are coming in as a very strong team because we have experience in organizing this event,” Mvurya said.
He further confirmed that the event will be held in Naivasha, Nakuru County, for the foreseeable future. Safari Rally made it’s return to the WRC calendar in 2021.
“Safari Rally is important because of the serene beauty of the Nakuru County and Naivasha. Kenya has been mapped out globally as the best country of the WRC events calendar,” Mvurya added.
The minister announced the formation of a low-level committee that incorporates the area leaders and LOC to ensure the local community benefits from the global event.
“We have a whole government approach. The Safari Rally has brought together the whole government to make this event a success. This is the way we shall be doing our business; we don’t want to leave anybody behind. We want everyone to participate for the success of the event, and we leave something behind after the rally.”
He also backed the LOC team led by the Chief Executive Officer, Charles Gacheru, to deliver a better event than last year.
“I’m confident the CEO and the team are up to the task and they will host a successful event. This is a world-class event.”
Speaking at the same function, the Principal Secretary for Sports, Peter Tum, emphasized environmental conservation and supporting the community would be at the heart of the Safari Rally.
“We have a good rating for organizing an international event. This year’s Safari Rally will not be like last year’s because we’ve listened to the people. We are on the right footing going forward,” Tum said.
The 2025 WRC Safari Rally will officially be flagged off in Nairobi by President William Ruto on March 20. The cars will then go to Kasarani for the Super Special Stage before the first competitive stage in Naivasha.
