Kenya seeks 5-year extension of rights to host WRC Safari Rally
By Joel Masibo, January 31, 2026Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has revealed that Kenya is in the process of bidding for another five-year extension of World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally hosting rights as the current agreement ends in March 2026.
The WRC Safari Rally returns to Kenya for the 2026 season from Thursday, March 12 to Sunday, March 15, 2026, marking its sixth edition since 2021 by trading urban, Nairobi-based starts for an intense, four-day challenge exclusively in the Great Rift Valley.
With the event centred around Lake Naivasha, the 2026 edition features 20 special stages focusing on treacherous terrain like the Kedong and Sleeping Warrior. Following its 2021 return after a 19-year hiatus, the Safari Rally has solidified its spot in the WRC calendar.
FIA goodwill
Speaking on Friday, January 30, 2026 in Nairobi, Mvurya CS Mvurya says it is the particular goodwill from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) that has prompted the country to bid for additional hosting rights.
”I know there are many Kenyans who will be asking that this year was the end of the contract. Just to assure you that we are already in engagement, and this time round we are even looking at an extension of five years, so that we don’t have a situation where we have three years. There is goodwill from FIA and other partners. We are in a good place; we now want to secure an extension of five years.” Mvurya said.
Key changes
The 2026 WRC Safari Rally will experience some key changes as the traditional Nairobi start at Kasarani is dropped, with spectator access to the shakedown included for the first time in the modern era. The event continues to showcase Kenya as a premier global motorsport hub, attracting international crews and boosting tourism.
The four-day spectacle will feature 20 competitive stages, attracting top rally crews and participants from Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, underscoring the rally’s regional appeal and international stature. Volunteer applications were open from Friday, with a deliberate inclusion target, where 42 per cent of slots and senior official positions are reserved for women. Driver applications are also currently underway.
Meanwhile, the 2025 Safari Rally Kenya was a challenging World Rally Championship (WRC) event held from Thursday, March 20 to Sunday, March 23, 2025, based in Naivasha, featuring tough dirt stages, wildlife, and stunning Kenyan landscapes, with the Welsh professional rally driver Elfyn Evans taking the overall victory.