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All the best to rally drivers

Editorial logo Nation.Africa

By  Editorial

Kenya will once again be thrust into the international limelight this week when 39 drivers battle it out during the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally that revs off this Thursday along City Hall Way in Nairobi.

The event will be held less than a month after the high-profile Magical Kenya Open Golf Championships that took place at Muthaiga Golf Club. South African golfer Jacques Kruyswijk reigned supreme.

Two-time WRC Safari Rally winner and defending champion, Kalle Rovanpera of Finland, world champion Thierry Neuville (Belgian) and championship leader, Elfyn Evans (Briton), are among the stars lined up for the shakedown in Naivasha on Wednesday ahead of the flag-off on Thursday by President William Ruto.

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The rally, which ends on Sunday in Naivasha, will have an overall liaison and competitive distance of 1,381.92km.

Organisers are burning the midnight oil to ensure they deliver a successful event that is likely to draw over 80 million television viewership across the world.

It is heart-warming that the government and the Local Organising Committee have scaled down expenditure on the iconic rally from last year’s Sh1.3 billion to less than Sh 1 billion. It is also encouraging that Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya met local leaders in Nakuru County twice to address long-standing issues so as to ensure a smooth event.

We also hope that the thorny issue of environmental conservation as well as traffic jams on the busy Nairobi-Nakuru road have been addressed to avoid inconveniencing competitors, fans and other road users during the competition.

The WRC Safari Rally has been a major sports tourism and economic driver, hence astute planning is required.

We wish all rally drivers and their teams a safe competition, and the visitors, an enjoyable stay in Kenya. To the rally fans, observe traffic rules for your own safety.