President William Ruto has announced that the Kenyan government will stop funding the iconic Safari Rally Kenya starting next year, marking a major shift in how the international motorsport event will be financed.
Speaking in Naivasha on Sunday, March 15, during the closing ceremony of this year’s competition, the President said the event will transition fully to private sector funding and promotion.
“This is the last Safari Rally where we will be spending public money to promote it. From next year, this event will be fully funded and supported by the private sector,” Ruto stated.
According to the President, funds that were previously used by the government to support the rally will instead be redirected toward developing sports in schools and other sectors across the country.
“The resources we have as a government will now be used to promote sports in our schools and other spheres,” he added.
The announcement follows an earlier move by the Ministry of Sports, which revealed it had signed an agreement with private sector partners to take a leading role in coordinating the just-concluded rally.
The agreement was intended to reduce the financial burden on the government when hosting major global sporting events.
The President’s remarks also come at a time when Kenya’s future on the World Rally Championship calendar is under discussion, as the country’s current hosting agreement approaches its end.
Since returning to the WRC calendar in 2021 after a 19-year absence, the Safari Rally has re-established itself as one of the most challenging and iconic events in global motorsport.
Kenya initially signed a five-year deal with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to host the rally until 2025, before the agreement was extended to include the 2026 edition.
However, reports indicate that the government has already begun negotiations for a new five-year extension that could see Kenya continue hosting the prestigious rally in the coming years.
The event has remained a key pillar of Kenya’s sports tourism industry, attracting thousands of local and international visitors and providing a major economic boost to businesses, especially in Naivasha and surrounding areas.
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