Kenya has finally being readmitted into the prestigious World Rally Championships (WRC) after 18 years of wait, President Uhuru Kenyatta revealed on Friday.
Kenya was the only African country that was bidding to return to the WRC. Kenya and Africa have been out of WRC since 2002.
The popular and iconic Safari Rally was dropped from the WRC calendar in October 2002 after the government failed to meet some necessary guarantees demanded by the Global Body, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
“It is my pleasure today to announce to the people of Kenya and Africa that this process has been concluded and the Safari Rally has been included in the International Automobile Federation World Rally Championship 2020 Calendar, marking the return of the World Rally Championship to Kenya and Africa, after 18 years of waiting,” said Kenyatta in a statement.
The Safari Rally as it is known today was first held in Kenya in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
It started as the East African Safari Rally traversing the three East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The Rally developed to become the toughest Rally in the world and was regarded as a true test of man and machine.
In 1973, the Safari was admitted to the prestigious International Automobile Federation (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC) held within the boundaries of Kenya.
The Safari Rally continued to enjoy International Automobile Federation World Rally Championship status until the year 2002 when the event was dropped from the World Rally Championship and relegated to the African Rally Championship (ARC).
“Before my Administration assumed office in 2013, I made a promise to the people of Kenya, to return the Safari Rally back to the International Automobile Federation World Rally Championship family. This process has taken us seven years,” said Kenyatta.
JK/abj/APA