Kenya has secured its place on the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar for another year after the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) World Motor Sport Council confirmed the Safari Rally as part of its 15-round 2027 season, putting to rest months of uncertainty over the event’s future in the country.
President William Ruto announced the confirmation on Thursday, October 8, ending speculation over whether Kenya would retain its slot on the calendar beyond 2026. “Fellow citizens, the Safari Rally stays home. I am delighted to confirm that Kenya will host the WRC Safari Rally in 2027,” he said, adding, “The Safari was born on Kenyan soil.”
He credited the Ministry of Sports, the WRC Safari Rally Project, private-sector partners, the FIA and the WRC Promoter for securing the event’s return. He also argued that each edition delivers real economic value to the country by filling hotels, energising local businesses and showcasing Kenya’s natural beauty to a global television audience.
The 2027 Safari Rally Kenya will run from March 18 to 21, once again based in Naivasha, Nakuru County, and will feature as the third round of the championship, following Rallye Monte-Carlo in Monaco (January 21–24) and Rally Sweden (February 18–21), which open the season.
The wider 2027 calendar spans five continents and 15 rounds in total and will introduce new WRC27 technical regulations, alongside the return of Rally USA in Knoxville, Tennessee (August 26–29) and Rally Scotland in Aberdeenshire (September 30–October 3).
WRC Promoter CEO Eric Boullier described the new season as a turning point for the championship. “2027 represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the World Rally Championship, and this calendar reflects our ambition to build a stronger, more accessible and truly global championship,” he said.
Kenya’s bid to retain its place on the calendar had been a priority throughout the year. Kenya Motorsports Federation officials confirmed that they had formally submitted a request for an extension of Kenya’s hosting contract, with Vice President and WRC CEO Carl Tundo, Secretary General Eric Bengi and Motorsports Council Chairman Mindo Gatimu representing the federation in discussions on the rally’s future and the broader revival of motorsport in the country.
Those discussions come as Kenya prepares to change how the Safari Rally is funded and promoted. Under the new arrangement, the private sector is expected to take on full funding, management and promotional responsibility for the 2027 edition. This shift follows Ruto’s earlier calls for reduced direct government spending on the event in favour of greater corporate involvement.
The Safari Rally remains one of the WRC’s most distinctive and demanding fixtures, known for its punishing gravel stages, wildlife-rich setting and unpredictable conditions, which have long set it apart from other rounds of the championship.
Its continued inclusion marks another significant milestone for Kenya’s standing in global motorsport, building on a hosting history that stretches back decades and has made Naivasha a fixture on the international rallying map.
