Ruto Rides In Safari Rally Car, Records Song At State House [VIDEOS]

State House is currently the venue of the unveiling of the 70th Anniversary of the Safari Rally and the Launch of the Sports and Creative Economy Plan.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jun 9, 2023 - 17:16 Updated: Sep 2, 2023 - 22:42
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Ruto Rides In Safari Rally Car, Records Song At State House [VIDEOS]
President William Ruto inside a Safari Rally car at State House, Nairobi on June 9, 2023. /YOUTUBE.STATE HOUSE KENYA

President William Ruto on Friday, June 9 got his taste of a Safari Rally car when he was treated to his first experience inside one since taking office on September 13, 2022.

At State House, Nairobi, Ruto managed to fit through the vehicle's roll cages and had a hard time wearing his seatbelt before he was assisted by rally legend, Carl 'Flash' Tundo to strap in.

An elated Head of State could be seen giving a thumbs-up as Tundo got into the driver's seat and revved the rally car, a Subaru Impreza, which rode along the cabro roadways surrounding State House and around the building.

State House is currently the venue of the unveiling of the 70th Anniversary of the Safari Rally and the Launch of the Sports and Creative Economy Plan.

Here's the video:

The WRC Safari Rally is set to take place in the country from Thursday, June 22 to Sunday, June 25, with the flag-off point moved to the refurbished Uhuru Park from its traditional point at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Uhuru Drives Safari Rally Car

In comparison, former President Uhuru Kenyatta on June 17, 2021, drove a Safari Rally car around State House ahead of the Safari Rally, which was at the time returning to the WRC worldwide circuit for the first time in 18 years.

He chose a modified Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR) car, which has become popular for its speed and is not new to the game as it was introduced more than 60 years ago.

Its rally team will seek to defend its crown in arguably the world's toughest rally after scooping all top 4 positions in 2022. Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier - winners of the previous two editions - both field Toyota GR Yaris cars along with Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta, the Japanese star twice a podium finisher in Kenya.  

The Safari Rally will mark 70 years since it was held all the way back in 1953 as a celebration of the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Coincidentally, the 2023 Safari Rally will take place on the same year King Charles III, who succeeded her, was coronated.

Ruto Records Talanta Hela Song

At the same time, President Ruto was taken through a series of exhibitions, which included a makeshift recording studio whereby he was given a chance to become a content creator himself by recording a song with Colonel Mustafa and Motif Di Don.

The Head of State is expected to launch the Talanta Hela Initiative officially, despite confusion emerging earlier following a decision by Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba to revoke a previous Gazette notice on the establishment of the Talanta Hela Council and Technical Committees.

Namwamba revoked Gazette Notice No. 1649 of 2023 that created the Talanta Hela Council, according to a Gazette Notice on Friday, June 9.

Azziad Nasenya with Sports CS, Ababu Namwamba on February 20, 2023. /AZZIAD NASENYA

"It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts has revoked Gazette Notice No. 1649 of 2023," read the notice in part, without explaining the reason for the revocation.

Notable celebrities appointed in the February 2023 Gazette Notice were Daniel Ndambuki (Churchill), Azziad Nasenya, Esther Akoth (Akothee) and digital strategist Dennis Itumbi.

Other personalities whose appointments were revoked were Spice FM presenter Jimmi Gathu and media celebrity, Catherine Kamau (Kate the Actress).

Celebrated sports journalist, Carol Radull, was also on the list, having been appointed to the Talanta Hela team as the chairperson of the sports technical committee.

Churchill and the team had been appointed to help the government revive and reform the creative industry, including sports.

Here's the video of Ruto recording a song at State House:

The revocation came after the High Court on Monday, May 22 suspended the establishment of the program, which contains two technical committees, one for sports and one for creatives and was established by the Head of State on Friday, February 10 through the Gazette Notice.

“Pending the hearing and determination of this application inter parties, an interim order be and is hereby issued suspending the special issue of the Kenya Gazette Notice 1649(Vol. CXXV No.32) dated February 10, 2023, publishing the establishment of the Talanta Hela Council and its Technical Committees and consequent appointments for a period of 3 years,” ruled High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi.

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