The Government reaffirmed its commitment in promoting environmental conservation and road safety education a head of WRC Safari Rally following a Tree plantation exercise that took place in Kakamega Forest on Wednesday.
The event was presided over by Cabinet Secretary for Sports Dr Amina Mohamed and her counterpart from Environment and Wildlife Keriako Tobiko in partnership with WRC Safari Rally organisers led by the Project CEO Phineas Kimathi.
As part of the WRC Safari Rally greening project, CS @AMB_A_Mohammed and CEO Phineas Kimathi today led dignitaries in planting trees in Kakamega Forest.
Target is to plant 1 million trees in Kakamega and Kisumu.#WRC #SafariRallyKenya pic.twitter.com/XnmFR4XO9q— Safari Rally Kenya (@wrcsafarirally) June 2, 2021
Under the Greening Legacy Project theme, Kenya intends to plant 18 Million trees over the next 3 years in commemoration of the 18 years that the Safari Rally was out of the World Rally Championship Circuit.
“The production and operation of automobiles have a substantial effect on the environment.The world has produced 60.5 million cars this year. It is anticipated that by December 31st, 2021, this number will increase to 67 million. Two new vehicles enter the roads every second”
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“Our target is to create a Safari Forest at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and plant trees along the traditional safari routes in other parts of the country ” noted Dr Amina.
Last year,Federation Internationale De I’Automobile (FIA) President Jean Todt today launched the WRC Safari Rally Greening Legacy Project at Kasarani Stadium in the outskirts of the capital in his first of the three-day visit to the east African nation.
Todt planted the first of 18 million trees, an Acacia Xanthophloea (Yellow Fever Tree) species, to mark the return of the iconic Kenyan event back in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) after 19 years.
Asante @fia President @JeanTodt for launching the WRC Safari Rally Greening Legacy. We are ready to host the 2021 WRC Safari Rally @AMB_A_Mohammed @StateHouseKenya @NziokaWaita @moscakenya pic.twitter.com/QenqGWE4IJ
— Safari Rally Kenya (@wrcsafarirally) November 24, 2020
Kenya is ready to host the FIA/WRC Safari Rally on 24th to 27th June, 2021,with government having already put in place the necessary personnel, infrastructure and operational manuals to guarantee the most successful event in Kenya’s rallying history.
The profile of this event will convene in excess of 825 million visitors in the form of spectators, online games participants on Safari play station and global television viewership.
State Broadcaster KBC is set to be unveiled Monday next week as the official TV rights holder of the the event which is to be one most epic adventures in the world of motorsport.