KCB sponsors 2023 WRC Safari Rally with Sh150 million
KCB Bank Kenya has set aside Kes150 million for supporting the 2023 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally, as the lender bolsters sports development and youth empowerment in the country.
While Kes100 million will go directly to the 2023 WRC Safari Rally event, part of Kes50 million will sponsor three Kenyan drivers Evans Kavisi, Nikhil Sachania, and Karan Patel under KCB.
This year, the regional lender will be the Official Financial Partner for the Championship, which is scheduled to take place between June 22–25, in Nakuru County.
The bank said the latest move underlines KCB’s commitment to supporting motorsport in Kenya. The lender has already used over Kes1.5 billion in the past 20 years in the sport, the highlight being the 2019 Kenya Safari Rally’s return to the global showpiece that is the World Rally Championships after a two-decade absence.
Read also: FIA rally stars set to shine at the WRC Safari Rally
Speaking at the launch of the sponsorship, KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said: “We take great pride in being part of East Africa’s motorsport story since 2003, when we first sponsored the Safari rally. This marks another chapter in our story and reiterates our commitment in supporting sports, as we celebrate the historic return of WRC Safari Rally to the Kenyan soil.”
In 2019, KCB became the Official Financial Partner for the Safari Rally Kenya for the World Rally Championship (WRC) Rally, with a three-year commitment of Kes250 million starting with a WRC Candidate event staged in June that year.
“We are putting together yet another massive rallying event to reinforce Kenya’s growing profile as a global sporting arena” said Hon. Ababu Namwamba, Cabinet Secretary, Youth Affairs, Sports, and the Arts.
KCB also announced a commitment towards promoting sustainability and care for the environment during sporting activities. “We are championing sustainability initiatives like tree growing, recycling, waste management in the run-up, during and after the Safari Rally” said Mr Russo adding that KCB has joined hands with other partners in an initiative to plant 400,000 trees in several counties in the course of this year. Last year, through this partnership 700,000 trees were planted.
