A group of Kenyan rally drivers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the recent prize-giving ceremony of the WRC Safari Rally, describing it as chaotic and disrespectful.
The drivers, including Joe Kariuki, Andrew Muiruri, and Issa Amwari, claim that they were treated as second-class drivers in their own country by top officials of the WRC (World Rally Championship) and KNRC (Kenya National Rally Championship).
According to Joe, who ranked sixth in the rally driving a left-hand Subaru N14, the award ceremony at the podium was a shame.
After the awards were presented to the notable individuals, including the President, the Kenyan drivers were left scrambling amongst themselves for their awards. Joe and his navigator were even left stranded on stage as a female usher handed them their award.
Joe expressed disappointment that the Kenyan drivers, who went through the same rigorous practice and paid the same entry fees as the visiting drivers, were not given the same respect.
He questioned why they were left confused and stranded at the podium after the other drivers had been awarded. As a local talent, Joe felt it would have been more appropriate to receive his award from someone like the area Governor.
Issa Amwari, who finished fourth in the WRC/KNRC stage driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, shared similar sentiments. He found it humiliating to receive his award from casual officials rather than a top rally official or the rally’s CEO.
Issa believes that the presence of the President and other high-ranking officials at the Service Park should have been followed by their involvement in the awarding ceremony.
The drivers described the ceremony as a contemptuous charade, comparing it to a poorly executed Nigerian comedy skit. They felt that they were left to award themselves without any official presence. They were handed their awards by a model who seemed disinterested.
“It was pure madness! We were left to award ourselves with no official present. We were actually awarded by a model who didn’t even want to be in the photo. It was like a scene from a Nigerian movie,” Joe Kariuki’s navigator John Ngugi said.
The drivers expressed their disappointment and frustration, believing that they were not given the recognition they deserved.
Additionally, Andrew Muiruri, who finished twelfth in the rally driving a Subaru Impreza, criticized the lack of proper traffic management during their last lap to the Service Park.
Andrew mentioned that after the top drivers had passed through, the road was opened to regular traffic. This caused the drivers to struggle with heavy traffic congestion for over 45 minutes. The drivers felt that the road should have been closed until all the drivers had cleared out. This would have ensured their safe and efficient passage.
“As we were leaving Hell’s Gate, headed to the final spot, we realized that the road had been opened up. We had to struggle with crazy traffic as we fought to reach Service Park,” he said.
“Ordinarily, the road should be closed off until all drivers have cleared out but after the top drivers with better cars had crossed that area, they no longer manned the road leaving us struggling with exceedingly heavy traffic like ordinary drivers. We had to overlap as we feared our fuel might run out,” he added.
The drivers expressed their demoralization and vowed to address the issue with the top authorities at the WRC. They believed that their treatment as second-class drivers in their own country was unacceptable.
“This is a matter we won’t take lightly. We’re some of the finest drivers in town. It took a lot to get to where we were, to be able to get to the podium. And then you’re treated like a second option? In your own country? This is not the way to run the WRC in Kenya! Absolutely not!” An angry Ngugi quipped.
Sebastien Ogier emerged victorious in the Safari Rally Kenya, defeating Kalle Rovanperä, as Toyota secured a 1-2-3-4 finish. Elfyn Evans claimed the final spot on the podium, followed by Takamoto Katsuta. This enabled Toyota to replicate their perfect finish from the previous year’s Safari Rally.
