With less than 30 days before the eagerly awaited Easter weekend’s WRC Safari Rally Kenya, organisers of the event have reported great progress.
Safari Rally Project CEO Charles Gacheru said the sporting team led by event director Jim Kahumbura and Clerk of the Course Gurvir Bhabra have done an amazing job so far 'and should deliver a world-class event'.
“We have a very dedicated sporting team that has been working round the clock to ensure that all is well.”
“The team has been on top of the game in meeting key deadlines set by the global body, FIA, and made my work at the Project less of a burden. I can confidently say we’ll deliver an event to remember for many years to come,” Gacheru said in an interview.
He said finer details on the way forward will be effected soon. Gacheru reported great progress on the ground, adding that several aspects of the iconic rally have been taken care of.
“The medical team, timekeepers, service park team, the safety team and safety marshals led by Norris Ongalo are in high spirits and executing their duties well in time for the Easter spectacle,” Gacheru said.
Gacheru was last month appointed the new Safari Project boss for three years, replacing retired rally driver Phineas Kimathi.
His first major task before embarking on his long-term plan will be to deliver a quality event over Easter as he looks forward to steering the fabled event to the next level.
“The rally is about the sporting team, the roads and the service park which is the nerve centre of the event. Our sporting team has hit the ground running as we begin the countdown to Naivasha.
"We have a huge army of volunteers who will be in Naivasha to ensure the event runs seamlessly as far as safety is concerned.
"We are working closely with the Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF) led by chairman Maina Muturi to ensure that all is well.,” Gacheru said.
He noted that the marshals have regularly undertaken continuous FIA training to ensure they are well-versed and equipped to carry out their roles effectively.
He said the initiative of planting 19 million trees will continue in line with Safari’s greening project on sustainability.
“WRC Safari Rally Greening Legacy Project remains on course to plant 19 million trees to signify the 19 years the Safari Rally was out of the World Rally Championship (2003-2020),” he noted.
The Green Legacy Project is also meant to showcase Kenya’s commitment towards the United Nations Climate Action Plan, the project’s coordinator Ivy Kaburu said.
The Kasarani Triple ‘S’ will be the first competitive stage of the WRC Safari Rally 2024 on March 28, and it is part of the Moi International Sports Complex ecosystem, where the government and the WRC have been conducting tree-planting exercises for the last three years.
On matters of traffic, the CEO added his team will work closely with the National Youth Service and the National Police Service to ensure a seamless flow of vehicles during the Easter weekend.
“For those driving through Naivasha going for the Easter holiday, kindly obey the marshals do not overlap.
Being Easter, we should all work together to ensure we respect traffic rules. The Kenya Police and NYS will be there to assist but ultimately we must all use the roads responsibly,” Gacheru said.
