Canada-based Moezmalik Abdul has confirmed his participation in the 64th edition of the KCB Safari Rally slated for Nairobi and Elementaita on June 10-12.
‘Uncle Moez’ as he is fondly referred to by his nephew and rally driver, Hussein Malik, will be navigated by legendary co-driver George Mwangi.
“ Moez is an old hand in rallying. I remember rallying against him as a beginner in the early 90s. It will be good sitting with an ‘oldie’ like me because he (Hussein) can learn a thing or two from ‘Wazee wa kazi’. After the recent feat of having navigated Phineas (Kimathi) and his son (McRae Kimathi), I now move to ‘uncle and nephew affair, not bad eh,” said Mwangi who is the only black African navigator to have won the iconic Safari.
Mwangi is, however, spoilt for choice whether to navigate Uncle Moez or officiate at the forthcoming Safari. “I really have to make a major decision as soon as possible, but as I said, I can’t wait to read the pace notes for Uncle Moez,” Mwangi quipped.
Moez started rallying in the 80s here in Kenya but stopped in 2000 when he moved to Canada for greener pastures. “It’s going to be the first time with George though we have known each other since 80s when I left Kenya,’ said Moez, adding: “Malik will be putting in our entry soon.”
Moez finished second in a previous edition of the Raymond Rally in the under 1600 class in a Colt Lancer in the 90s and 11th overall in the 1990 Serena Rally. He was also navigated by Dr. Sunil Vinayak in a Mitsubishi Lancer during the 1999 Safari Rally. Mwangi on the other hand has two KNRC wins (Safari and Eldoret) with the legendary Azar Anwar and the training rallies with Charan Thethy. The 64th KCB Safari Rally will be flagged off at the KICC grounds on May 10.