WRC thrill: Rally enthusiasts camp in Naivasha

Thousands of local and international Safari Rally enthusiasts have camped in Naivasha for a thrilling fourth edition of the World Rally Championship (WRC) as top drivers battle for the coveted title.

The competition, which kicked off in Naivasha on Friday after a flagging by President William Ruto, is expected to boost local tourism inflows as small and large businesses open their doors to buyers.

Already, local hoteliers, camping facilities and Air, Bed and Breakfast [Airbnb] with thousands of bed units have been fully booked for the three-day event enabling them to recover from a sluggish year.

According to David Mwangi, the chairman of, the Nakuru County Tourism Association, over 100,000 rally lovers were expected in the town for the three-day event despite the harsh economic conditions in the country.

Mwangi said the rally has placed Kenya and especially Naivasha town as a key destination to both local and international tourists thanks to hearty and welcoming locals, warm weather, an alluring lake and world-class cuisines.

To ensure a seamless event, hundreds of security officers have been lined up at key service points to control traffic, give to speeding rally cars way and protect enthusiasts from harm.

Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner, Josiah Odongo, said that partying and hawking along Moi South Lake, a key link road to rally routes remained banned.

Odongo said that over 800 police officers were deployed for the three-day competition urging members of the public to obey the law and follow traffic rules.

Despite the scorching sun and dusty roads, rally lovers arrived in tens at marked rally routes in Naivasha to witness man and machine battle each other.

Among them are tens of fans from Uganda and Rwanda who braved the hot weather as they cheered their best drivers as they vroomed off in seconds.

They dressed in their favourite costumes, draped their country flags on their shoulders, danced to their mesmerizing music and cheered as the speeding cars rumbled through.

According to James Wenangi from Jinja in Uganda, they were ready to witness the thrill of the yearly moment, adding that the past three experiences they have attended have been memorable.

He lauded Kenyans for their generosity and welcoming nature which has seen hundreds of fellow Africans join them to celebrate and enjoy the sporting event.

His fellow countryman, Adam Namono, noted that the dusty and hot weather would not deter them from watching the global event.

He however noted that the number of fans was lower compared to last year but was optimistic that this would rise in the coming days.

“We are excited to be in Kenya for the rally and we are looking forward to the evening life so that we can have more fun,” he said.

According to a Kenyan fan, Grace Wanjiku, the competition has brought back the memories of the iconic Safari Rally with the younger generation getting a taste of the thrill.

Wanjiku said the four-year-old event has put Kenya on the world map and showcased its hospitality and natural attractions to millions of fans around the world.

One of the traders Mary Njeri was however optimistic that the numbers could rise by the evening and over the weekend as more fans travelled from Nairobi.

“The first day is always slow but we are sure that things will change over the weekend as more revellers arrive in the town,” she said.

According to one of the traders Paul Kiragu who had travelled from Nairobi, business was yet to pick up adding that they were finalizing the last preparations.

“We have not officially started the business but we hope that rally fans and revellers will visit this place to make merry and do business,” he said.

This was echoed by another trader Shiku Kamau who said that they were optimistic that the numbers of revelers would rise despite the location of the village from Naivasha town.

“We hope that despite the distance those seeking to do business will arrive in the tens as we have so many things to offer until Sunday when the rally comes to an end,” she said.

This year’s rally features a strong entry list including 10 top-level Rally1 cars and 16 WRC2 entries, with notable drivers like Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanperä, Ott Tänak, and Thierry Neuville.