Kenya is set to host the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally in 2027 after the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) added it back to the 15-round global series.
The rally, which is due to take place from March 18 to 21 next year, will be the third event of the season after Rallye Monte-Carlo and Rally Sweden. The event will once again take place in Naivasha. The country’s leader, William Ruto, confirmed Kenya’s hosting of the event on Thursday, October 8, closing a chapter of speculation over the status of the rally in Kenya after the expiry of a contract to host it through until 2026.
“The Safari Rally stays home. I am delighted to announce that Kenya will host the WRC Safari Rally in 2027,” Ruto said.
The president said that the rally would once again see the best drivers in the world tackle the unique challenge of Kenya’s landscape, including the plains, valleys and other features surrounding Naivasha.
The president’s confirmation comes as the WRC announces the addition of five rallies to its 2027 season, making it the longest campaign since 2008. In addition to Kenya, the World Rally Championship will return to the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Italy will host a new asphalt rally centred on the city of Rome.
Kenya will host the Safari Rally for the first time since 2021, when the event was last held before the 19-year hiatus. Safari Rally has become something of a staple in the WRC since its return in 2021, with Naivasha providing the backdrop for the start of the race. The government had previously stated its intention to seek to host the rally for a longer period and to attract greater private-sector involvement.
Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi stated in early October that Kenya had submitted its bid to host the 2027 event and that preparations had already begun.
The 2027 Safari Rally marks the start of a new technical era for the world rally circuit. New technical regulations designed to cut costs and open up the championship to more competitors will be introduced.
For Kenya, the retention of one of its flagship sporting events will continue to put it on the map as a host of an elite international competition, with the centre of the action once again focused on Naivasha.