NAIVASHA, Kenya, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will negotiate to retain its annual Safari Rally as part of the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar beyond next year, the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya announced on Saturday.
The initial five-year contract with the WRC Promoter ends this year, but the government entered a deal to extend it by a further year to 2026.
Speaking in Naivasha, about 90km northwest of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, following the conclusion of the opening loop of Day 3 of the 2025 WRC Safari Rally, Mvurya assured Kenya will spare no effort in ensuring the event to remain part of the global championship.
"Kenya is the rally capital of Africa, and even though 2026 is coming, we are ready to go on. And therefore, as the government and all the partners, we will pitch a tent to ensure we go on. You will not find this combination, these exciting sites, this exciting diversity in any other part of Africa. The enabling environment for the rally is spectacular," Mvurya said.
"So, as the Kenya government, we are ready to push on to ensure we continue hosting the WRC and also inviting more private sector so that moving forward, we have more private sector participation," he told reporters on the penultimate day of this year's edition.
Mvurya added that Kenyan President William Ruto will be in Naivasha on Sunday for the award ceremony at Hell's Gate following the conclusion of the grueling 21-stage event.
"As already directed by the president, as government, we are now going to put resources into making sure that motorsport becomes a talent we nurture at Technical and Vocational Education Training and other institutions," Mvurya added.
He hailed organizers of the 2025 Safari Rally for opening up the event to more spectators than the previous four editions since it returned to the WRC in 2021.
"We are now in Day 3 of this motorsport competition, and I am very happy with the turnout of the spectators. We have very many Kenyans and international visitors who have thronged various stations," Mvurya underscored.
"It's been a tough rally; some areas are wet, and others are dry - a good combination. This is a well-organized event, and everything is moving seamlessly."
During his press call, Mvurya engaged with WRC stars such as championship leader Elfyn Evans, who was leading the rally after the opening loop on Saturday. ■
