The 2022 World Rally Championship Safari Rally Kenya kicked off today in what promises to be a historic global showpiece.
KCB Bank-sponsored drivers Evans Kavisi and Nikhil Sachania were among the drivers flagged off by President Uhuru Kenyatta to represent team Kenya in the rally.
The WRC Safari Rally is returning to Kenya after a splendid world showpiece event in 2021 and is scheduled to take place from today through Sunday in Nakuru County.
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President Uhuru Kenyatta said: “Motorsports has emerged as an important part of Kenya’s sporting calendar as it is a powerful platform that enhances unity and social reach. The Safari Rally holds a special place in this country’s history, as it is synonymous with the social as well as economic growth of Kenya. We are proud as a country for we have shown the world that Kenya can host high caliber events like the World Rally Championship.”
In 2019, KCB became the Official Financial Partner for the Safari Rally Kenya for the World Rally Championship (WRC) Rally, with a 3-year commitment of KShs. 250 million. This year, the Bank put in KShs100 million for the event.
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“We are glad to have been part of this transformational journey that has seen Kenya shine in the global motoring space. Motorsports is synonymous with our brand journey,” said KCB Group Chairman Mr. Andrew Wambari Kairu.
“We are keen on further growing motorsport to elite levels while committing to promoting sustainable development and respect for the environment through sport. We recognize sport’s unrivaled ability to encourage and inspire enormous numbers of people. We are leveraging this event to renew enthusiasm for sustainability and a burgeoning transformation in attitudes for the public towards environmental conservation,” he added.
Since 2014, the role of motorsport has evolved to include sustainability, which has been recently reinforced by the announcement of several sustainability strategies.
The Bank, in collaboration with local communities, has been involved in the Safari Rally greening legacy project, and so far, 5 million trees have been planted across eight counties. It is the brainchild of President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Federation of International Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt.
The target is to plant at least 7 million trees before the end of the year. The Western and Kisumu edition efforts were bolstered by Kenya Forest Service, KCB Bank Kenya Kisumu and Kakamega branches, Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation, and Kalro Kisumu, among other partners.
