The WRC Safari Rally Returns
From Facebook/Presidential Library and Museum
The return of the WRC Safari Rally to Kenya brings back nostalgic memories of the days when everything else used to come to a standstill for Kenyans from the time racers were flagged off by the President until winners were announced. During its glory days, every Easter was Safari Rally time as the calendar of the race coincided with the Holiday.
Kenyans from all walks of life including the Presidents followed the competition with excitement and millions lined up the course traversing Kenya’s landscape.With the reputation of being the most popular racing rally in Africa and the hardest to win globally, the Safari Rally has a rich and colourful history behind it that spans more than seven decades.
It was first held on 1 June 1953 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.It was first known as the East African Coronation Safari. In 1960 it was renamed East African Safari Rally to cover Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and in 1974 became the Kenya Safari Rally. It was included in the World Rally Championship in 1978 and took a hiatus from WRC in 2002.
After concerted efforts by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Administration, the WRC Safari Rally is finally coming back to the Cradle of Mankind and its literal birthplace in Nakuru where motor racing enthusiasts in Langa Langa first came up with the idea in 1953.
