As Kenya prepares to host the third leg of the 2026 World Rally Championship circuit, attention is once again turning to Naivasha where the iconic Safari Rally Kenya will take place from March 12–15.
Beyond the high-speed action and global spotlight, this year’s rally is also emerging as a platform to advance conversations around sustainability.
Key sponsor KCB Bank Kenya has committed Sh227 million towards the 2026 edition of the rally, marking its sixth consecutive year supporting the event since its return to Kenya in 2021. The lender’s total investment in the rally now stands at more than Sh980 million, reflecting its long-term commitment to sports development, community empowerment and environmental conservation.
A major highlight of the bank’s sustainability push is the launch of the KCB Green Debate Series, which has brought together more than 30 secondary schools to discuss climate change, environmental stewardship and sustainable development.
The debate series, organised in partnership with Debate Circle, aims to encourage young people to think critically about environmental challenges and position them as future champions of sustainability.
“Debates are a structured way of exchanging opinions and coming up with solutions,” said Debate Circle CEO Billy. “By engaging students in structured discussions on climate and sustainability issues, we are equipping them with the skills to think critically and contribute meaningfully to solving real-world problems.”
Regional rounds have already been held across different parts of the country, tackling topics such as clean energy transition and institutional responsibility in addressing climate change. The grand finale is scheduled for March 28 at Naivasha Girls High School, where top schools will compete for the Green Thought Leadership Champions title.
Participating schools are also taking part in tree planting activities aligned with KCB’s plan to plant and grow 1.5 million trees in 2026, part of Kenya’s national ambition to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
During the rally itself, the bank is also focusing on sustainable event management. Last year’s event saw 26 tonnes of mixed waste collected and sorted, with plastic recycled into flower vases and eco-tiles, glass bottles converted into construction materials, and organic waste processed into fertiliser.
KCB is also supporting gender inclusion in motorsport by sponsoring two female drivers—Queen Khalimpiya from Rwanda and Tinashe Gatimu from Kenya—who will compete alongside more than 40 crews in this year’s rally.
According to Judith Sidi, Head of Sustainability at KCB, such initiatives demonstrate how sustainability can be integrated into everyday activities while nurturing environmentally conscious future generations.
By linking motorsport with education, environmental awareness and community engagement, KCB is positioning the Safari Rally as more than just a sporting spectacle—turning it into a platform that inspires young people and promotes responsible stewardship of the environment.
