KCB Bank Kenya has on February 10, 2026, committed Sh227 million towards the 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya, extending its support of the iconic event for a sixth consecutive year since its historic return in 2021.

The latest sponsorship underlines the bank’s long-term investment in motorsport and local talent, while reinforcing Safari Rally’s status as a global sporting spectacle.

Of the total sponsorship, Sh100 million will go directly to the organization of the Safari Rally Kenya, while Sh28.5 million has been allocated to five KCB-sponsored drivers: Kenya’s Karan Patel, Nikhil Sachania and Tinashe Gatimu, Rwanda’s Queen Kalimpinya and Uganda’s Oscar Ntambi. The remaining funds will be used for marketing and fan engagement activations.

The commitment brings KCB’s total contribution to the Safari Rally since 2021 to Sh980 million, following the rally’s return after a 19-year absence. Speaking during the cheque handover to Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said the sponsorship reflects the bank’s commitment to sustainable impact, local talent development, and economic growth across tourism, trade and enterprise.

Beyond motorsport, KCB has invested over Sh5 billion in Kenyan sports over the past two decades, including rugby, athletics, football, golf, volleyball and chess. More than Sh2 billion of that has gone specifically into motorsports, enabling local drivers to compete at national, regional and international levels.

The 2026 Safari Rally will run over four days and be fully based in Naivasha in March, in line with FIA sporting regulations on competitive distance and crew working hours. The rally will feature 350.02 competitive kilometres and 842.9 liaison kilometres across 20 special stages. The new format moves away from the traditional Nairobi ceremonial start at KICC, streamlining operations while maintaining the event’s trademark challenge.

Action begins on Thursday, March 12, 2026, with a shakedown at the newly introduced Nawisa stage, followed by a ceremonial flag-off and stages at Camp Moran and Mzabibu. Friday’s itinerary includes Camp Moran, Loldia, Geothermal and Kedong. On Saturday, crews will tackle Soysambu, Elementaita and Sleeping Warrior, before Sunday’s finale at Oserengoni, Hell’s Gate and the Wolf Power Stage, culminating in the prize-giving ceremony.

This year’s event is expected to attract around 50 local and international teams, with manufacturers Toyota, Hyundai, Škoda and M-Sport Ford confirmed. The entry list features leading WRC names, including Sébastien Ogier, Thierry Neuville, defending Safari Rally champion Elfyn Evans and Grégoire Munster. As the third round of the WRC season, Safari Rally remains one of the championship’s most punishing tests, where rough terrain, unpredictable weather and wildlife demand both speed and survival.

Among the drivers benefiting from KCB’s continued backing is 20-year-old Tinashe Gatimu, who will contest her fourth Safari Rally in 2026. Tinashe will step up to a Ford Fiesta R2, upgrading from the Subaru GC8 she previously competed in. The R2 platform offers improved performance, reliability and agility, suited to the rugged Safari conditions.

Preparation for the event will include pre-rally testing to fine-tune the car’s setup, with a focus on durability rather than radical changes. Tinashe will again compete alongside her mother Caroline Gatimu as co-driver, forming one of the few all-women crews in Kenyan rallying, while her father, Mindo Gatimu, continues as the team’s senior mechanic.

 “This year, the goal is to finish first, then build from there,” Gatimu said, reflecting a measured approach shaped by experience.

 Beyond Safari Rally, Gatimu is set to contest the African Rally Championship full-time in 2026, viewing the season as a learning platform as she targets long-term progression through the international rally ranks.

 Sustainability will again feature prominently in the 2026 Safari Rally, with KCB targeting the planting of 5,000 trees and engaging over 60 high schools in environmental awareness initiatives. Safari Rally Kenya CEO Charles Gacheru said the event continues to grow as a global showcase for Kenya, while nurturing the next generation of motorsport talent.

 As engines prepare to roar once more in Naivasha, KCB’s investment ensures that the Safari Rally remains not only a test of endurance, but a platform for growth--both on and off the stages.