The World Rally Championship (WRC) is a fantastic motorsports competition that has benefited the nation’s economy, according to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Since its comeback last year, the international motorsports competition, according to President Kenyatta, has drawn well-known motor sports giants, raising the country’s image.
In Naivasha, Nakuru County, the President addressed on Sunday afternoon as he awarded the winners of this year’s Safari Rally.
“Thank you very much for your partnership and your cooperation, and to the people of Kenya you will see this is an event that is in our blood. Let me also remind you that it is not only an event that is in our blood because of our history but it is also an event that impacts us economically and positions us globally,” President Kenyatta said.
At the same time, the President urged Kenyans to continue supporting the competition as an economic endeavor in addition to a sporting one.
“An event like this is not just about the drivers and the crews, it’s also about every single person who is a participant from the hotels that are occupied, to the waiters who serve them, from those that do traffic management to those who are spectators, and those who are vendors for various items. It is an event that brings money to the pockets of wananchi.
“As we promote it, we promote not just the sport, we also promote our own economic wellbeing and that is how I would want Kenyans to view it. Don’t look at the event with small lens but rather see it in a bigger picture. Lets see it as an event which will help us prosper,” said the President.
The Head of State commended the champions for exemplifying the real spirit of sportsmanship and thanked all parties who contributed to bringing the WRC back to Kenya.
“We are here today to really celebrate the second year that we have hosted the return of the Safari Rally back on the WRC circuit. We are here to say how happy and proud we are to be together with all our partners and racing lovers across the globe as we celebrate our drivers, as we celebrate their cruise across the globe.
“Mine is to congratulate every single participant and as I said when we started, the prize is not in winning, the prize is in how you win. I want to believe that all our competitors for this year’s Safari Rally have shown us the need and the great desire for competing vigorously but acknowledging competition is not enmity and that is why we are here. To celebrate not just the winners but every single entrant, congratulations to each and everyone of you,” he said.
The Federation International de l’Automobile (FIA) and the World Rally Championship were congratulated by the President, who also serves as the Safari Rally’s patron, for working with the government to bring the event back and ensure its success.
“I want to extend my gratitude to the FIA team and the World Rally Championship team for the manner in which we have collaborated. Bringing back the Safari Rally required keen working together and a willingness to partner together to deal with the issues that resulted in the rally leaving Kenya in the first place. And I want to thank them for that partnership we have walked the journey together and we are back together,” he said.
The sole woman from Kenya who competed in this year’s Safari Rally, Maxine Wahome, was commended by the president for winning category 3 of the 2022 World Rally Championship.
Amina Mohammed, the cabinet secretary for sports, culture, and heritage, Rodrigo Rocha, the vice president of the International Federation of Automobiles, and Phineas Kimathi, the chairman of the Kenya Motor Sports Federation, also spoke at the occasion, which was also attended by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.
Earlier, the President and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, along with top government and rally officials, watched the drivers whiz past as they took on one of the most challenging yet thrilling sections of the WRC Safari Rally from a magnificent vantage point in Naivasha’s Hells Gate National Park.
This year’s WRC was won by Kalle Rovanpera, who was closely followed by Elfyn Evans in second and Takamoto Katsuta in third.