The government has defended the move to use a section of Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha for the upcoming World Rally Championship (WRC) in July.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the world event schedule  would have minimal effects on the troubled parks wildlife and ecosystem.

The assurance came as the organisers of the event and the government settled for Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Training Institute in Naivasha as the main service centre for the prestigious rally.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala yesterday  led a high-powered government delegation and rally organisers to a visit of the park and hotels in Naivasha where the rally cars will pass through.

Balala told environmentalists and stakeholders that the routes chosen would not interfere with the movement of wildlife.

He said that the rally organisers and events coordinators were comfortable with the routes chosen along various sites and in the park.

He added that part of the funds raised from the event would go towards saving the parks endangered vultures and also towards various environmental projects.

“We have identified rally route around the park and we don’t have to seek new roads for this event which will also be used to sell Kenya as a tourist destination point,” he said.

On the service centre, Balala said that the organisers would expand the current graduation square and use the nearby Sanctuary Farm to host more of the rally equipment and machinery.

“We are expecting between 80,000-100,000 visitors and the government is keen to make sure that this event is a success,” he said.

To this end, Balala noted that plans were at an advanced stage to construct a waterfront in Lake Naivasha which will be used during the rally event.

“KWS has ample and unutilised land near the lake and we are in talks with the organisers so that this waterfront is ready before this world event kicks off,” he said.

On his part, Kenya Motorsport Federation chairman Phineas Kimathi said that all was set for the event which would attract drivers and viewers from all parts of the world.

He said that hotels in Naivasha where the main event would be held were fully booked noting that thousands would directly and indirectly benefit.

“This event will use around Sh6b and we expect hoteliers and small scale traders to be among the major beneficiaries for this event which has returned to the world rally series,” he said.