As the engines prepare to roar to life in Naivasha for the WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026 from Thursday March 12, 2026 Principal Secretary for Sports, Elijah Mwangi, confirmed that Kenya’s organizing structures, host county operations, and event management teams are fully in place.
He added that Kenya has the experience, infrastructure, and commitment to deliver this event to the highest international standards as it marks it’s sixth year since returning to the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar.
The third round of the 2026 WRC will be held exclusively in Naivasha, Nakuru County, 91km northwest of the capital Nairobi.
Speaking on the eve of the Safari Rally, PS Mwangi confirmed that every stage of preparations has passed mandatory FIA World Rally Championship safety requirements.
These are not internal targets he explained; they are binding international requirements that have been met in full.
This includes certified medical response units on standby at every of the 20 competitive stages, vetted marshal deployment across all stages and spectator points, clearly defined exclusion zones, and full emergency evacuation protocols.
The National Police Service (NPS) is fully embedded in security operation, working hand in hand with Safari Rally Secretariat, County Government of Nakuru authorities, and security stakeholders to ensure the safety of every competitor, official, and spectator across the entire rally footprint.
Mwangi was speaking after leading the final pre-event coordination briefing on Wednesday.
It brought together Safari Rally organisers, the National Police Service, county administration, and key event partners to confirm operational readiness ahead of Thursday’s ceremonial start.
He underscored that the WRC Safari Rally is Kenya’s event, delivered with distinction for decades, and that since its return to the WRC FIA calendar, it has consistently demonstrated that the country belongs among the world motorsport elite.
The confidence of the FIA, the competing teams, and the global motorsport community is well placed, and the government is determined to honour it.
The WRC Safari Rally Kenya, one of the most celebrated and demanding rounds on the WRC calendar, sees the world’s fastest drivers contest stages across the spectacular landscapes of the Great Rift Valley.
The 2026 edition is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of spectators on ground and a global broadcast audience of tens of millions.
Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo, head of the Safari Rally Kenya Secretariat and one of East Africa’s most decorated rally drivers, echoed the government’s confidence.
The five-time Safari Rally winner noted the Secretariat has worked alongside government, county authorities, security agencies, sponsors, landowners, local communities, and the FIA, to ensure that every competitive stage is safe, accessible, and spectator-ready.
SportPesa, one of the rally’s principal commercial partners, also reaffirmed its full commitment to the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya.
Ronald Karauri, CEO of SportPesa, expressed the company’s confidence in the event’s organisation and highlighted the Safari Rally as a platform that reflects Kenya’s growing stature as a destination for elite international sport.
The 2026 WRC Safari Rally Kenya gets underway on Thursday, 12 March 2026, with competitive stages running through to Sunday, 15 March 2026. The rally is based in Naivasha, Nakuru County, with stages traversing the surrounding regions of the Great Rift Valley.
The event is Round 3 of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship.
Spectators are advised to follow all official safety guidelines, adhere to marshal and police instructions at all times, and consult the official event website for stage maps, spectator zone information, and travel guidance.
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