Animal welfare experts are now warning that the move to hold the World Rally Championship in Hells Gate National Park in Naivasha could have adverse effects on wild animals.

Experts opine that the park was heavily polluted after hundreds of spectators failed to observe the laid sanitation procedures with the majority relieving themselves in the bushes.

However, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials and rally organisers have downplayed this, noting that all health measures had been met despite the overwhelming number of visitors.

Francis Muthui, chairman of Friends of Lake Naivasha, said the event had lifted the country’s image globally but robbed the park of its beauty and privacy. He pointed to poor sanitation as a major challenge during the global event that attracted 10,000 visitors.

“There were very few mobile toilets to serve the hundreds of spectators,” he said. Muthui further added that tonnes of litter had been scattered allover, raising fears of their effects on the wild animals.

“Rally organisers and KWS did their part in outsourcing staff to collect garbage but they were overwhelmed,” he said.

Lake Naivasha Riparian Association secretary Silas Wanjala pointed to noise pollution as a major threat to the tens of vultures in the park.

Wanjala, a bird expert, cautioned that acres of wildlife pastures had been destroyed as revelers drove off-road and organisers dug up new roads in the park.

“Noise pollution mainly around Fischers Tower could lead to miscarriage among the mammals while the pastures were massively destroyed due to off-road driving,” he said.

Earlier, Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed defended the move to host the rally in the park noting that an Environmental Impact Assessment had been conducted along the rally routes.