Bwana Gessese after winning in one of the baby race events in Italy. Photo/Handout
Born in Lamu county, where cars are virtually unheard of and donkeys rule the narrow alleyways, 11-year-old Bwana Gessese dreams of becoming a Formula 1 driver.
Bwana is the son of Umra Omar, Lamu’s first female gubernatorial candidate.
Despite his humble island beginnings, he is now enrolled in one of Europe’s top youth driver programmes, where he trains and studies.
Umra said she first noticed her son’s interest in motorsport when he was nine years old.
“Fresh from a historic political campaign in 2022, I decided to explore motorsport as a path for Bwana. I was looking for a sport that could channel his competitiveness and his curiosity for math, speed and excellence. That’s how we ended up at the Whistling Moran Karting Track on the outskirts of Nairobi,” she said.
Coming from Shela village on Lamu Island, where there are no cars, Bwana’s first experience in a kart was traumatic. He crashed out on the first lap.
“The next day was even worse. At Two Rivers Mall in Nairobi, he left with bruises and tears,” Umra recalled.
“However, when he returned the following week for a third attempt, I saw his resilience and strength in overcoming physical and mental challenges. That’s when I knew motorsport might be his calling.”
She later took her son to Portugal, where his interest in karting flourished.
However, the move came with new challenges; a different language, unfamiliar culture, and a reality far removed from the quiet, narrow alleys of Lamu.
Despite the odds, Bwana triumphed.
He secured his first major podium finish by placing third at the prestigious Portimão Circuit during the 2024 Portuguese Karting Championship.
Following that success, he was enrolled at the Baby Race Academy in Italy, one of Europe’s premier programmes for young drivers, where he now trains under the guidance of Sandro Lorandi.
“My decision to move him to Europe, particularly Italy, the epicentre of motorsport, was intentional. The key is to ensure he has a strong, supportive community. It really does take a village to raise a child,” Umra said.
At the academy, Bwana is learning not just to race but to grow as a well-rounded young athlete far from home.
“My role is to be ‘Mama’—supportive and nurturing, not a coach,” Umra said.
“It’s a tough sport and an even tougher industry. Since his dream requires great sacrifice, it must also bring him great joy.”
However, the journey has not been without its hurdles, she explained.
“The biggest challenge in elite motorsport is financial—it’s not a cheap sport, and there’s a glaring lack of infrastructure in Kenya and across Africa. There are fewer than a handful of tracks in the country, and only one karting championship on the entire continent,” Umra said.
“Giving our children access to elite sports is nearly impossible. This gap extends beyond motorsports into other disciplines and is rooted in limited investment in education and youth development.”
Balancing academics and athletics have also been demanding.
“Both are full-time commitments, so Bwana has to give 200 per cent, and as a mother, learning to let go and watching him become a purposeful young man—missing family, friends, birthdays—all in pursuit of his dream, is no easy task,” she said.
