Kenya Motor Sports Federation chair Phineas Kimathi has assured female rally drivers of the federation's commitment to growing the involvement of women in the sport.
During a meeting with a group of female drivers and navigators at WRC Safari Rally headquarters at Moi Stadium, Kasarani, Kimathi urged the women to intensify their interest in the sport to back up their talents.
"Talent is God-given. But when you add interest, as you have shown, then everything is possible," Kimathi said.
Led by their spokeswoman, award winning navigator, Tuta Mionki, the drivers suggested strategies for KMSF to reduce gender inequality in motorsport.
Among the proposals was increased involvement of women in the management of the sport, something they have shied from since eons.
Kimathi agreed with them, citing the example of their chairperson, Helen Shiri, in Paris who articulates fair gender issues at the FIA level.
Subsequently, he said KMSF is willing to accommodate women in all commissions.
Kimathi further said the FIA is willing to sponsor a female driver in the federation's Star Driver, but on merit.
The women drivers agreed to work together with KMSF, starting from the basics by having women own family outings, from go karts to rallying.
The meeting came hot on the heels of another commitment by a group of women from the Lions Club to generate awareness about women's presence in the automotive world of which they are challenging men in numbers.
Women are racing very fast to claim a niche, last left by Anne Teith and Sylvia King, the winners of the 1984 Kenyan national championship, and for a long time dominant figures in the Safari Rally.
Lately, Mionki navigated Eric Bengi to a career fourth overall in the 2019 FIA Candidate event Safari Rally.
