KCB Bank Kenya has pledged 227 million shillings for the 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya, marking its sixth consecutive year of support since the event returned to the global calendar.
The sponsorship package allocates 100 million shillings directly to the rally organization, while 28.5 million shillings will support five regional drivers: Kenya’s Karan Patel, Nikhil Sachania and Tinashe Gatimu, alongside Rwanda’s Queen Kalimpinya and Uganda’s Oscar Ntambi. The remaining balance is earmarked for marketing and event activations.
The announcement brings the financial institution’s total contribution to the Safari Rally to 980 million shillings since 2021, when the iconic race ended a 19-year absence from the WRC circuit.
During a presentation to Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi on Tuesday, KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said the investment is designed to drive economic activity in tourism and trade while fostering local athletic talent.
The 2026 edition features significant logistical shifts to comply with FIA sporting regulations. Organizers have moved the event base entirely to Naivasha to manage crew working hours, replacing the traditional ceremonial start in the capital, Nairobi.
The four-day competition, scheduled for March 12-15, will cover 350 kilometers of competitive distance across 20 stages.
Sports Principal Secretary Mwangi praised the bank as a “dependable partner” in a country where motorsports often struggle for consistent private sector backing. Over the past two decades, KCB has invested more than 5 billion shillings across various sporting disciplines, including rugby, volleyball and football.
The 2026 entry list includes major manufacturers Toyota, Hyundai, Škoda and M-Sport Ford. Top-tier drivers such as Sebastien Ogier and defending Safari champion Elfyn Evans are expected to compete in what remains the WRC’s most grueling test of endurance.
In addition to the racing, the bank announced an environmental initiative to plant 5,000 trees during the event, aligning with a broader government goal to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
