PLANNING OF THE FIA/WRC SAFARI RALLY, KENYA ON COURSE

The Government of the Republic of Kenya, through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, is committed to create the safest environment for local and international sports competitions in the wake of the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

In March 2020, the Government called for cessation of contact sport competitions and group sporting activities to slow down the spread of the virus following reports of the initial positive cases of COVID-19 in Kenya. As a result of the global lockdown and escalating cases of the disease in various countries across the world, particularly in Europe, three major global sports events - the FIA/WRC Safari Rally Kenya, the World Athletics Under-20 Championships and the Magical Kenya Open Golf Championships – were re-scheduled to the year 2021.

On June 30, 2020, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage Amb. (Dr.) Amina Mohamed appointed the “Resumption of Sports Advisory Committee” to draw up protocols for the resumption of sporting activities in the country which were unveiled on August 24, 2020.

These Protocols guided the gradual resumption of sporting activities, starting with low risk, non-contact sports. Stringent COVID-19 measures were installed in all competitions with complete spectator seal offs in competition venues.

With the curve steadily flattening, leagues and competitions were re- started. Kenya resumed international competition in various sporting disciplines, incident-free.

1

Most significantly:

- The Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship, part of the European Tour, was successfully held at the Karen Country Club from April 18 to 21, 2021, in a “bubble” with no spectators on the course. A total of 156 golfers took part in the competition which was televised globally.

- The Kenya Savannah Classic Golf Championship, also part of the European Tour, was held at the Karen Country Club from April 23 to 26, 2021. Similarly, this was held in a bubble and enjoined all the 156 players who competed at the Magical Kenya Open.

- An Africa Cup of Nations Football Qualifying Match between Kenya and was successfully staged at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. Egypt comfortably flew in top professional players including English stars - Mo Salah (Liverpool), (Arsenal) and Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa). International Kenyan players also took part in the match.

- Kenyan sprinters and field events athletes along with the Boxing and Sevens Rugby teams resumed their preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at various “bubble” locations across the country with frequent international competitions outside the country.

- The National men’s and women’s hockey teams hosted national men’s and women’s teams from Uganda for a series of international friendlies in Nairobi.

- Various domestics leagues resumed included in basketball, football, volleyball, cricket and rugby with the track and field season, along with cross country competitions at national level.

2

- The Kenya National Rally Championship and various other motorsports competitions got underway, including regional Superbike championship and Motor cross competitions whose season is well underway.

Strict Covid-19 protocols have been observed at all these events with all athletes, coaches and officials, caterers and media having to undergo regular PCR tests.

Besides the return of sports competitions, schools in Kenya re-opened and students successfully sat their end-of-year examinations in a revised academic calendar.

On March 26, 2021, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta temporarily increased dusk-to-dawn curfew hours from 8pm to 4am in specific marked zones and ordered the closure of various public utilities in these regions including the temporary suspension of sporting activities.

As an essential measure to check against the third coronavirus wave, Zonal areas of Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado and Nakuru Counties were ordered to implement the 8pm to 4am curfew while curfew hours for the rest of the country remains 10pm to 4am, daily.

His Excellency the President explained that experts expected the third wave to peak within a month from March 26 and flatten in mid-May, hence the precautionary measures meant to support the efforts of the Ministry of Health to support the public healthcare system.

As at March 31, 2021, Kenya had only registered 2,153 COVID-19 related deaths. 92,679 have fully recovered. The Government has stepped up its vaccination campaign. The systematic vaccination process prioritizes frontline healthcare workers, teachers, security officers, vulnerable populations and persons beyond the age of 58.

3

While domestic flights have been put temporarily on hold, all international flights are fully operational, a positive sign that the current lockdown is temporary in nature with normalcy expected to resume soon.

The African Rally Championships is scheduled to take place from 21 – 25 April 2021. All preparations are underway with the government providing full support to guarantee safety and security of all the participants and crew members.

Similarly, preparations for the FIA/WRC Safari Rally Kenya are in full gear. Kenya is ready to welcome participants, drivers, crew members, media and others to the iconic Safari Rally!

Issued in Nairobi on 1st April, 2021

-ENDS-

4