Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured rally fans of an exciting and well-organized 2026 Safari Rally, pledging that the government has provided adequate resources and security to ensure the event’s success.
Speaking on Thursday during the flag-off ceremony at the Wildlife Research and Training Institute in Naivasha, Nakuru County, the DP emphasised Kenya’s pride in continuing to host one of the special series of the World Rally Championship (WRC) each year.
“We are looking forward to a very exciting Safari Rally. Last year, we had 400,000 in-person attendees; this year, we expect 600,000. We had 10,000 guests from East Africa and we expect more this year. Between Thursday and Sunday, we will have over 80 million viewers across the world,” Kindiki noted.
He described the Kenyan leg of the WRC as one of the most challenging and captivating rallies globally, highlighting the combination of rugged terrain, abundant wildlife, and the energy of passionate rally enthusiasts.
“This is the greatest rally in the world. It is quite challenging. There is no other place in the world where you can get a combination of tough terrain, wild animals, rain and hospitable people all put together. It is only in Kenya,” the Deputy President declared.
Kindiki expressed appreciation for the support of the organisers and sponsors, assuring them of the government’s continued commitment to sustaining the rally as a premier sporting event.
The administration contributes close to 400 million shillings annually toward promoter fees to the World Rally Federation and is also investing in nurturing young rally drivers to safeguard Kenya’s legacy in the championship.
“I assure partners and all the stakeholders of continued government support. The government continues to pay promoter fees of nearly 400 million shillings to the World Rally Federation but we encourage the private sector to have more say in the organization and running of this event,” he said.
The DP also assured the public that security arrangements have been reinforced along all rally routes to protect participants and spectators throughout the four-day event.
The 2026 Safari Rally, running from Thursday to Sunday, is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of local and regional spectators while reaching millions of viewers worldwide, further cementing Kenya’s reputation as the home of one of the most exhilarating and unique rallies in the World Rally Championship calendar.
Kindiki’s remarks come as the government continues to balance investment in high-profile sporting events with efforts to nurture local talent, promote tourism, and enhance Kenya’s visibility on the global sporting stage.