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Kenyans are delighted to host the iconic Safari Rally after 19 years. The contest returns to the high-profile FIA World Rally Championships (WRC) and the country should seize the opportunity to make it a permanent event in the global calendar going forward.

With an estimated 825 million viewers expected to watch the action across the globe, it should be an invaluable opportunity to market the country to the outside world as a great tourism hub, investment destination and sporting giant.

It is expected the Kenyan business community will seize the moment to showcase their products to thousands of fans who are expected to watch the rally.

Already, Naivasha, which will be hosting the action, is booming with business and an estimated Sh6 billion is expected to enter into the country’s economy by the end of the global competition.

The rally is a nostalgic reminder of the times when families used to dedicate their Easter holidays to watching the rally.

Though shortened from a five-day rigorous event covering over 4,500km, to a sprint-like event running just over 1,000km, this year’s Safari Rally is expected to live up to its time honoured mantra of the ‘The World’s Toughest Rally” and now, also celebrated as “The great Kenyan Experience in Africa.”

Already a good number of fans have been witnessed during the Wednesday Shakedown in Loldia and during Thursday’s Super Special Stage at Kasarani and the number is expected to drastically increase on Saturday and Sunday.

Plans have been put in place by the government and event organisers to ensure the competition goes on without any incident and in line with Covid-19 regulations, and the fans expected to descend at the flower city must ensure all the rules are followed, to ensure safety on the routes and give the country a high rating in the eyes of the motoring global body.

It should be remembered that safety was the major reason the event was withdrawn from the Kenyan sports calendar.

That is why we are disturbed by scenes yesterday in which hoodlums blocked the rally drivers during the flag-off. Some rally drivers could not compete after the stage was red flagged due to spectator crowding.  

We must emphasise that fans must be disciplined to prevent incidents that could put a certain and steal a shine from the event.

This places particular responsibility on law enforcement to control the crowds. May the best driver win.