Return of the Safari Rally event which is part of the World Rally Championship (WRC) will now be held for three consecutive years in Naivasha.

The announcement was made yesterday by visiting Federation International Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt who lauded the government and WRC for a job well done ahead of the rally set for July 2021.

Todt termed the event as monumental for the country adding that millions would follow it through the TV and other media outlets.

He noted that the theme of the event was safety on the road adding that the country would benefit greatly from the annual event.

“Am happy with progress made in preparing for this event which will be symbolic for Kenya and we fully back it,” said Todt at Lake Naivasha Resort after visiting the new service bay that will be used by the rally cars.

Already the service bay located at the KWS Training Institute in Naivasha is complete, months ahead of the international event.

On her part, Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said Kenya was prepared for the event that would be followed by over 350 million people globally.

She praised the WRC local committee that had worked overboard to complete the service bay ahead of the set time flame.

“After 18 years in darkness the WRC is back in Kenya and we are excited to host it after it was postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

She exuded confidence that by the time the rally would he held in the country, the pandemic which has wreaked havoc globally would have been contained.

“I held a meeting with the President who assured us of the national government support and the hotel industry is ready to host all the international visitors,” she said.

The CEO World Championship Rally in Kenya Phineas Kimathi said that the event would he held for three years consecutively in Naivasha.

He noted that unlike other events that would be held in various towns, the WRC event was different as it required competing vehicles to return to the service bay after every three stages.