Why Flag-Off Point For WRC Safari Rally Has Been Moved To Revamped Uhuru Park

The World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally that is set to take place between June 22-25, 2023 has had its traditional flag-off point at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi moved to the refurbished Uhuru Park.

The WRC organising committee on Thursday, March 2 inspected the starting point of the world-famous championship with the expectation of more spectators at the highly anticipated global event.

Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba stated that event will be used to popularise Uhuru Park and Central Park with the rally planned to be staged within the two heritage places.

“We are celebrating efforts made in conserving special sites and both Uhuru and Central Parks provide very special reference points and we shall have our outstanding athletic legends like Kipchoge (Keino) and Eliud (Kipchoge) among other to be part of the heritage festivities,” he noted.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, flanked by Safari rally Organising Committee chairman Carl Tundo, briefs the media after touring the Naivasha Service Park of the WRC Safari Rally on March 02, 2023. /DAILY NATION

He added that thousands of people are expected to show up for the rally, which is also expected to be shown live to 2 billion audiences across the world, translating to about 500 million households, meaning the TV coverage that will be focused on Kenya at the time will be immense.

In addition, CS Namwamba stated that there will be an infusion of arts, music, and fashion in a designated village dubbed the 'Hustler Bazaar', at the starting points of both parks.

"We are providing spaces for you to get a piece of the pie that the WRC Safari Rally is. So we are telling Kenyans to please get ready in three months, we want you to be part of this fun," the CS said.

"Artists, if you are musicians, a painter, a comedian or you do visual art, we are going to provide a space for you to be part of the sherehe celebrating the Kenyan heritage."

The 'Hustler Bazaar' will also be prominent in Naivasha, where the real action of the Safari Rally will also be held, with a "strong hustler feel" expected at Kendong viewing point among other places, yet to be announced.

Namwamba further announced that the Ministry of Sports would set up special points for screening the rally so Kenyans across the country can be accommodated, as well as bazaars at those points to boost businesses.

"Working with governors we hope to set up special screening points where you can be able to be part of that whole experience," he added.

"It is all part of our Talanta Hela initiative where we want to use sports and arts to put money in the pockets of our people."

The CS expressed his desire to incorporate the global sports event with a Kenyan flavour in line with the government's bottom-up economic transformation agenda and assured ordinary traders of enjoying brisk business during the WRC event.

He was accompanied by WRC Safari Rally Organising Committee chairman Carl “Flash” Tundo and CEO Phineas Kimathi, among others.

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, will be coronated.

The event that made its comeback in 2021 has been a cash cow for traders who reap big from plying their trade to motorsports enthusiatists among others who grace the event that has been held at the end of June across Nairobi and Naivasha towns.

It is worth it to note that Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on September 27, 2022 clarified that Kenyans will access both the Uhuru and Central Parks free of charge. The only exception was the Nairobi Festival where Kenyans were charged to access the event held in December 2022.

The 2023 WRC Safari Rally will be President William Ruto's first experience of the international rally tour since being sworn in on September 13, 2022. 

Inside the refurbished Uhuru Park in Nairobi. /NMS