By GPC Sports Desk
President William Ruto has confirmed that Kenya will host the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally in 2027, ending uncertainty over the event’s future on the global motorsport calendar.
Ruto made the announcement on Thursday, saying the iconic rally would once again roar through Kenya’s plains, valleys and the roads around Naivasha.
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“The Safari Rally stays home. I am delighted to confirm that Kenya will host the WRC Safari Rally in 2027,” Ruto said.
“Once again, the world’s finest drivers will take on our plains, our valleys and the legendary roads of Naivasha,” he added.
The announcement follows weeks of preparations by the Government and motorsport stakeholders to retain the Safari Rally after the expiry of Kenya’s existing hosting agreement.
The Sports Principal Secretary, Elijah Mwangi, said over the weekend that Kenya had submitted a request for a five-year extension of its hosting agreement, with preparations already under way for a bigger 2027 event. K24 Digital
“We are preparing to have another bigger rallying event in March 2027 that will be supported by the government and private sector,” Mwangi said while speaking in Mathioya.
“We have already submitted our request for extension of contract to continue hosting WRC in Kenya,” he added. The Eastleigh Voice
Kenya returned to the WRC calendar in 2021 after a 19-year absence, with the Safari Rally subsequently becoming one of the championship’s most distinctive and demanding rounds. Motorsport.com
The 2027 confirmation also comes amid a shift in how the event is financed and managed.
From the 2026 edition, the Government increased private-sector involvement in organising and funding the rally, with the aim of reducing the financial burden on the State.
Mwangi said the Government would continue working with private-sector partners through a special purpose vehicle, while retaining responsibility for key areas including security and negotiations over the hosting agreement.
Ruto said the Safari Rally was important not only to Kenya’s sporting heritage but also to the wider economy and international profile.
“The Safari was born on Kenyan soil. It belongs on Kenyan soil,” he said.
“Every edition fills our hotels, energises our businesses and carries the beauty of our country to screens across the world.”
The President thanked the Ministry of Sports, the WRC Safari Rally Project, private-sector partners, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the WRC Promoter for helping secure the event.
The latest confirmation follows reports earlier Thursday that the WRC’s 2027 calendar was still being finalised, with Kenya seeking to secure its place beyond the 2026 edition. the-star.co.ke
