Mr Khan , we value and appreciate your commitment .
For many years Kenyan rally
fanatics have been yearning for the World Rally Championships (WRC) to come home,
but over the past decade rally driving in itself has seen a decline. This
year’s Rally was however quite unique as indeed efforts are being put to place
to ensure that we have successful rallies hoping to bring the WRC 2017 to
Kenya. The 2014 Kenya Commercial Bank Rally held at the KICC on 12th
of September was the 62nd Edition and was rather exceptional as
there were a few fresh additional ideas added into the event. The four day
gruelling 800 kilometres rally had more than 70 drivers and navigators. It is
seen as one of the toughest motor sports event in the seventh round of the FIA
African rally championship. Some rally drivers however decided to race raising
awareness on the terrible poaching crisis in Kenya. Among them was car number
18 ALS’ Subaru N10 driven by F. Khan and A Bhatti with a visible ‘IVORY BELONGS
TO ELEPHANTS’ Sticker on its side.
Car Number
18 (Subaru N10) Ready for takeoff at KICC Nairobi. Flagged off by Jim Justus
Nyamu Director Elephant Neighbors Center.
Car Number 118 Ford Fiesta
ST driven by James Mactavish and Geoff Mayes. This was an initiative to let
people know how serious the poaching situation is in Kenya, unique species such
as Elephants and Rhinos are at the brink of extinction. These particular rally
drivers hence chose to take the conservation message through the rough terrains
of Laikipia and beyond.
The President of the Republic
of Kenya H.E Uhuru Kenyatta flagged off a few cars that morning among them the
winning car Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X driven by Baldev Charger and Ravi Soni.I
also had the privilege of flagging off a few vehicles among them Car number 18,
23, and 61.With me was my good friend Mr.Muzzafar Khan of ALS and Dr. Winnie
Kiiru of Kenya Wildlife Service. I had a good time and couldn’t help but think
that conservation should be on every one’s mind. Every corporate should support conservation because in one way or
another poaching affects them as it does the Kenyan economy. This was a great
opportunity having a platform to create awareness in the longest running
sporting event, letting people in Kenya and abroad know that indeed there is a
problem that needs a quick solution.
I would like to appeal to
the Kenya Motorsport Foundation through its Chairman Mr. JS Vohra to have more
vehicles with this initiative in the future and especially as a way of trying
to bring the World Rally Championships to Kenya.
We are now looking forward to see him rallying in Naivasha on Nov 22nd doing Guru-Nanak Edition.
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