President William Ruto has announced that the Safari Rally Kenya will from 2027 be fully funded by the private sector, a move the government says will ease pressure on public finances while strengthening the country’s sports development agenda.
Speaking on Sunday, March 15, while attending the World Rally Championship event at Hell’s Gate National Park, the President praised corporate sponsors and partners for stepping forward to support one of Kenya’s most iconic sporting spectacles.
He said private investors will take over the responsibility of hosting, managing, promoting and financing the rally beginning next year, allowing the government to redirect resources to grassroots sports programmes and talent development.
The Head of State also addressed the perennial traffic gridlock experienced along the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Highway during the rally weekend, assuring Kenyans that this year’s congestion will be the last.
According to the President, the government is fast-tracking the dualling of the Rironi–Nakuru section of the Rironi–Mau Summit highway, a major infrastructure project expected to significantly ease traffic along the busy Northern Corridor once completed next year.
The multi-billion-shilling upgrade aims to expand the road into a four-to-six lane dual carriageway linking Nairobi to key Rift Valley towns.
The President spoke after the thrilling conclusion of the 2026 rally, where Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston clinched victory for Toyota Gazoo Racing, securing Katsuta’s first-ever win in the WRC.
The four-day rally, based in Naivasha, attracted global attention as the third round of the 2026 WRC season, featuring 20 competitive stages and covering more than 350 kilometres of rugged terrain across Nakuru County.
President Ruto congratulated the winners, all participating crews, organisers and sponsors for delivering another successful edition of the globally recognised motorsport event.