A total of 52 Rhino Charge cars have been given the go-ahead to participate in this year’s off-road competition that raises funds for environmental conservation work.
The vehicles set to participate were inspected from 8am up to 5pm with a view of ensuring they are in compliance with the rules of the event set to kick off on Saturday at Nkoteyia Community Conservancy in Samburu County.
The Clerk of the Course, Don White, and chairman of Rhino Charge said an elaborate strategy on road safety has been put in place.
"There is a huge number of different measures in place around safety. When we talk about safety, we talk about everybody involved whether that person is a charger, a spectator, somebody from the local community," he said.
White said there is strong control over who enters the venue.
He said many who come to the venue are experienced.
White said road signages have been put in place.
“There are strict competition rules on road safety on the course that has been taught over the years and improved,” he said.
White said there is a large safety and rescue team in place.
“We have a full set of medical staff in place, we have three ambulances, we have got evacuation helicopter and aircraft,” he said.
White said he expects the event to be successful.
On Saturday, the event will kick off while the amount of money raised as well as the prize-giving ceremony is set for Sunday.
White said the charge is unique as the community just like in other charges has benefited.
UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt is among those present at the venue.
Todt will attend this year's charge as well as preside over the Rhino Charge prize-giving ceremony on Sunday.
The envoy's five-day mission to Kenya is part of his visit to East and Southern Africa to advocate for the effective implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, which aims to halve the number of victims on the road by 2030.
This year’s venue of the charge lies about 50km from Maralal Town on the Kirisia-Laikipia wildlife migratory corridor in the vast and picturesque Samburu County, ‘the gateway to the Magical North’.
At the same time, 3,300 people had registered on online ticketing portal by the May 26 deadline to attend the event that’s one of the few to run with a national conservation purpose.
Every year, the Rhino Charge Organising Committee receives requests from various communities interested in hosting the world-renowned 4x 4 off-road competitions.
Last year, the event was held in Kajiado County.
Some 54 out of a maximum 65 potential competitors took part in the Charge, due to various reasons, including mechanical failure.
Last year, six priority areas were identified where funds raised during the 33rd edition of the Rhino Charge event would go.
They include protection of Kenya’s mountain forests, threatened habitats and their rich biodiversity and engagement and education of adjacent communities in conservation.
A total of Sh156 million was raised last year for the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust conservation activities.
Another Sh5, 293,000 was also raised for the host Mosiro community from the vehicle access fee.
This year, part of the resources raised will also go to projects decided by the community.
The community also benefit from selling their wares during the event.
The 10-hour gruelling event took place in Mosiro, Kajiado, on June 3 last year.
Since its conception in 1989, the Rhino Charge has raised Sh1.7 billion towards the conservation of Mount Kenya, the Aberdares and Mount Eburu in the Mau Forest Complex.
Th annual off-road 4×4 competition has been held 33 times where entrants are required to visit 13 points (guard posts) while travelling the shortest possible distance across difficult, trackless terrain, where speed is not a necessity.
The highest fundraiser last year was Peter Kinyua (Car 23) who secured Sh39,517,947 up from previous year’s Sh36,243,250.
This year, Kinyua is also taking part in Car Number 23 again.
The second and third positions were taken by Adil Khawaja of Car 44 (AK44) with Sh21,733,677 up from Sh21,361,001 the previous year and Stanley Kinyanjui of Car 62 (Magnate Chargers) with Sh10,840,000 down from Sh 11,713,500 the previous year.
Kinyua’s Car No 23 scooped the Victor Ludorum Award, which rewards winners for distance and funds raised, followed by Philip Walton’s Car No. 5 and Mark Glen’s Car No 48 in second and third positions.
The Modified Class Category was won by Car No 38 entered by Sean Avery (Bundufundi), followed by Car No 22 entered by Gray Cullen (The Smiling Shenzis) and Philip Walton’s Car No5 (Team 5) in second and third places, respectively.
"With that support, we continued and expanded our conservation programme. These include the maintenance of 720km of fence that protect more than 85,000 households from human-wildlife conflict. We have an extensive conservation education programme benefiting 178 primary and secondary schools in our areas of operation,” Lambrechts said.
Factors considered in selecting a host conservancy include the willingness of the host community, terrain diversity, low human settlement density and appropriate landscape.
This year, Nkoteyia Community Conservancy, which lies in a wildlife migratory corridor, was selected for ticking most boxes on the set criteria.
The Conservancy, with stunning views of Ewaso Nyiro River and undulating hills, hosts the Nkoteyia Ecolodge, now Three Stones Safari Lodge (Soito Okuni – three stones in Samburu language), with the stones representing the environment, the wildlife and the people.
The lodge was established five years ago with support from USAID and DANIDA to create an income to pay for the much-needed infrastructure in the conservancy.
The lodge was meant to tap into the tourism market while conserving wildlife and supporting local community livelihoods, whose mainstay is pastoralism.
The eco-lodge has a conferencing facility and prides itself on being close to nature, wildlife and cultural experience through activities such as guided bush walks, hiking and nature trails.
The eco-lodge has positioned itself on the market as a sustainable tourism attraction characterised by low-density ecotourism and away from the mass tourism model and with a clear focus on the excellent visitor experience.
