•The gruelling 10 hours race that helps to raise resources towards conservation has attracted over 50 chargers.
•Prize giving is set to be conducted on Saturday when the amount raised will also be revealed.
The 33rd edition of the annual motorsport conservation fundraising event kicked off on Friday in Mosiro, Kajiado County.
The gruelling 10 hours race that helps to raise resources towards conservation has attracted over 50 chargers.
Prize giving is set to be conducted on Saturday when the amount raised will also be revealed.
Rhino Ark Executive Director Christian Lambrechts said Sh140 million was raised last year.
Kenya Forest Board Chair Peter Kinyua’s team then raised over Sh34 million and was closely followed by Adil Khawaja’s team with over Sh 21 million while Edward Muniu helped raise over Sh 11 million.
This year, Kinyua is also taking part in the event using car number 23.
Lambrechts said water towers need to be protected at all costs.
“Up to today, three major studies have been undertaken to understand the value of ecological services provided by mountain forests. One was done in 2009, another in 2010, and the other one is 2019,” he said.
He added that the three studies done by different institutions gave almost detailed the economic importance of water towers.
“Every hectare of Mountain forests provides ecological services to the nation worth Sh 550,000 per year. It is quite a substantial amount,” he said.
Lambrechts said all the mountain forests in the country provide ecological services worth Sh 650 billion every year.
He said mountain forests are taken for granted despite their usefulness.
“If we don’t conserve them, we are going to lose them,” he warned.
Lambrechts said mountain forests provide ecological services such as water, conservation, soil conservation, biodiversity and tourism, climate change adaptation, and mitigation.
He said it is worthwhile to invest Sh 1 billion to maintain the ecosystems.
Lambrechts said the funds set to be raised will go towards conservation.
He said some amount will go towards building the capacity to prevent wildfires that have been ravaging various parts of the country.
Magnet Ventures CEO Stanley Kinyanjui said they have been participating for the last 14 years now.
“I came first as a spectator, and I really enjoyed Rhino Charge,” he said.
Kinyanjui said he was inspired that the funds raised were going towards the conservation of Kenya’s water towers.
“The objective of Rhino Charge is fundraising for conservation. As a business, we are very passionate about conservation and the environment. We made a decision that Rhino Charge will be in our annual calendar and so every year as a business, we come and compete,” he said.
Kinyanjui said his business targets to help raise Sh 100 million as it celebrates its 15th year.
He said his business has contributed Sh 68 million over the last 14 years.
He said they do not only compete but also give resources for conservation than in fixing the competition car.
Kinyanjui praised the event saying it has helped drive the conservation agenda.
“It is a place you meet new people and have fun while discovering the country. Every year, I want to go for the rhino charge because I discover new and different places that otherwise, I would never get an opportunity to visit. This year, I’m here and I have never been here before,” he said.
He urged Africans corporate and individuals to come on board and help raise resources.
