A thunderous roar of support has arrived ahead of the 2026 WRC Safari Rally, as KCB injects a Ksh227 million total sponsorship package that includes Ksh28.5 million to turbocharge preparations for five drivers — three of them Kenyan — and sharpen the field for the March showdown in Naivasha.
Local Talent Gets a Big Lift
Leading the beneficiaries is rising star Karan Patel, joined by fellow Kenyans Nikhil Sachania and Tinashe Gatimu, alongside Queen Kalimpinya from Rwanda and Uganda’s Oscar Ntambi. The cash infusion is earmarked to bolster training, logistics, and race-readiness as crews prepare for the punishing East African terrain.
KCB’s Long Game in Motorsport
The KSh 227 million sponsorship for the 2026 event continues KCB’s six-year run backing the Safari since its dramatic return in 2021. To date, the bank has committed Ksh 980 million to the rally, a figure that underlines its strategy of using sport to drive tourism, enterprise, and youth development across the region.
KCB Group CEO Paul Russo framed the investment as more than branding: “Our sponsorship demonstrates our commitment to driving sustainable impact, supporting local talent, and stimulating economic activity.”
A Rally Reimagined for 2026
Organisers have reshaped the event to meet FIA 2026 sporting regulations. The four-day spectacle will be based in Naivasha, covering 350.02 km of competitive stages and 842.9 km of liaison distance. The revised format moves the ceremonial flag-off away from Nairobi and tightens the action into a compact, high-intensity schedule.
Key stages and highlights
• March 12: Shakedown at the new Nawisa stage, followed by ceremonial flag-off and runs through Camp Moran and Mzabibu.
• March 13: Competitive legs at Camp Moran, Loldia, Geothermal, and Kedong.
• March 14: Action at Soysambu, Elementaita, and Sleeping Warrior, finishing with an autograph session at Mzabibu.
• March 15: Final fireworks from Oserengoni and Hell’s Gate, capped by the Wolf Power Stage and prize-giving.
Green Goals and Community Reach
KCB is embedding sustainability into the rally’s DNA with a pledge to plant 5,000 trees this year, aligning with the national drive to plant 15 billion trees by 2032. The bank will also run a green debate series across 60 high schools, aiming to spark environmental stewardship among young Kenyans along the rally corridor.
Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi praised the partnership, noting KCB’s role in nurturing talent and unlocking opportunities for communities along the route.
World-Class Field, Local Dreams
The 2026 Safari Rally is set to attract 50 teams, including factory outfits from Toyota, Hyundai, Škoda, and M-Sport Ford, and marquee names such as Sébastien Ogier, Thierry Neuville, and defending champion Elfyn Evans. As the WRC’s third round, the Safari remains the ultimate test of survival — where unpredictable wildlife, fickle weather, and raw Kenyan terrain separate the brave from the beaten.
KCB’s latest backing gives local drivers a fighting chance to shine on that global stage, turning hometown ambition into high-octane reality.
