President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Friday, September 27, fulfilled his seven-year promise to Kenyans after he announced that the Safari Rally has been included in the International Automobile Federation World Rally Championship 2020 Calendar.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, the president stated that the process of bringing the popular sport back to the country had finally been completed.
"It is my pleasure today to announce to the people of Kenya and Africa that this process has been concluded and the Safari Rally has been included in the International Automobile Federation World Rally Championship 2020 Calendar, marking the return of the World Rally Championship to Kenya and Africa, after 18 years of waiting," part of the statement read.
He added that his administration would continue to work with relevant bodies to ensure that a 2020 Safari Rally was hosted and successive events thereafter.
The president made the promise before his administration assumed office in 2013 but implementation had taken the government seven years.
The global motorsport was first held in Kenya in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1973, the Safari was admitted to the prestigious International Automobile Federation (FIA) World Rally Championship (WRC) held within the boundaries of Kenya.
However, in 2002, the event was dropped from the World Rally Championship and relegated to the African Rally Championship (ARC).
