Are You Ready for 'Vasha' This Coming Weekend?
'Vasha' is calling! This among other many phrases is one of the most frequent words that have been used lately. This weekend marks a major event on the Kenyan calendar, with people from all walks of life expected to attend.
Leah Mukangai 
The Safari Rally that is set to be experienced in Kenya again is one of the most difficult motorsport challenges, with crews tackling the grueling high-speed and unforgiving gravel roads that stretch across Kenya's iconic wildlife-filled savannah.
Given the difficulty of winning and the unique stages, the event has long been regarded as one of the World Rally Championship (WRC's) crown jewels.
Safari Rally History
The Safari Rally began in 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.
It was renamed the East African Safari Rally in 1960 and remained that way until 1974 when it was renamed the Kenya Safari Rally.
It became known as the toughest round of the WRC because it was held on public roads. With arduous conditions, constantly changing weather, and over 5000 competitive kilometers, simply finishing was an accomplishment.
In 1996, the event adopted a new stage format, and from then until 2002, it featured over 1000km of timed tests. The rally left the World Rally Championship in 2002 and returned in 2021 with a revised shorter format.
Vasha meaning
This is a slang that is mostly used by the youths in Kenya referring to Naivasha town in Kenya. This word has frequently been used especially in connection with the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally which is mostly hosted in the town.
Why Naivasha 'Vasha' is the most preferred place for WRC Safari Rally
- Naivasha has a large number of reputable hotels where local and international visitors can stay while watching the rally.
- It has large ranches and conservancies that do not have a large human population.
- It also has a challenging terrain where rally drivers can put their endurance and driving skills to the test. Naivasha has a mix of rocky, hilly, and dusty sections, twisting turns, and straight stretches that meet FIA requirements.
- The Rift Valley floor is teeming with wildlife. It's a challenging spectacle.
- There's no other place to market Kenya during rallying other than Naivasha.
- Good internet connectivity around the rallying circuit.
- Good roads leading to the rallying area.
- It also has an arrangement that allows drivers to drive to the service park within two hours of arriving at the nearest international airport.
The WRC Safari Rally in Kenya
The safari of old has evolved to fit the modern-day WRC, but its character has not changed, with challenging closed dirt roads, picture-postcard scenery, and exotic wildlife.
Competitors can expect rocky and rutted trails, as well as unpredictable weather that could turn dry and dusty trails into glutinous mudbaths.
This weekend, Kenya will host Round 6 of the 2022 season.
How many times has Naivasha hosted the WRC Safari Rally?
Kenya will be hosting the WRC Safari Rally for the second time in its history. This event has since sparked many reactions among many youths and people across the world, especially in Kenya.
Attendees are always excited to go and witness the Safari rally competition since most people, especially men are always excited about the various car sports collection that appears in the rally.
How WRC Safari Rally came to be hosted in Naivasha 'Vasha'
On June 27, 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta stated that after years of intense lobbying and preparations, the government secured the hosting rights of the elite motorsport event from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the World Rally Championship (WRC).
"It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to announce, that we have agreed, with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the World Rally Championship (WRC), to continue hosting the Safari Rally in Kenya, every year until 2026," President Uhuru announced.
During the three-day event in 2021, French driver Sebastien Ogier took the first position and was followed by his Toyota teammate Takamoto Kasutsa of Japan and Hyundai's Ott Tanak of Estonia.
Onkar Rai, piloted by Drew Sturrock, was the highest-ranked Kenyan driver in seventh place, followed by Karan Patel and Carl 'Flash' Tundo in eighth and ninth place, respectively.
The President also stated that the successful hosting of the 2021 WRC Safari Rally demonstrated to the world that Kenya was ready to host global events despite the logistical challenges posed by Covid-19.
President Kenyatta reminded Kenyans that he had kept his 2013 promise to bring back the World Rally Championship Safari Rally after years of absence.
Here are some posts shared on the WRC Official page as they invite Kenyans and people across the world to attend the Safari Rally in Naivasha this weekend.
