Kenya Airways has delivered the first consignment of World Rally Championship (WRC) cars to Nairobi ahead of the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya, marking the fourth consecutive year the national carrier has served as the event’s exclusive airline partner.
Two high-performance rally cars arrived at 5:00 a.m. on Monday at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) aboard Boeing 787 freighters, signalling the start of final preparations for the event, which runs from 12 to 15 March in Naivasha.
The 2026 edition is the third round of the 14-event WRC season and the 73rd edition of the Safari Rally, widely regarded as the world’s toughest rally due to its unforgiving gravel roads, river crossings, wildlife hazards, and unpredictable Rift Valley conditions. This year’s event drops its traditional Nairobi ceremonial start and runs exclusively out of Naivasha, covering approximately 350 kilometres across 20 special stages.
The logistics operation involved specialised cargo handling given the technical demands of the Rally1 hybrid cars. Each vehicle carries million-dollar engineering and sensitive battery systems that require precise conditions during transport. Kenya Airways Cargo managed the operation from origin to arrival.
“Successfully delivering these high-performance rally cars to Kenyan soil is what fuels our passion at Kenya Airways Cargo,” said Fitsum Abadi, Director of Cargo at Kenya Airways, speaking during the offloading at JKIA. “Our team’s expertise ensures they arrive in perfect condition, ready to conquer the Rift Valley stages of this global sporting spectacle.”
Kenya Airways Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Captain George Kamal, described the delivery as a milestone for both the airline and the country. “As the Exclusive Airline Partner, the partnership reaffirms our commitment to being the bridge that connects global sporting excellence to Kenya’s world-class destinations,” he said. “Through the WRC Safari Rally, we not only celebrate speed and teamwork, but also promote our country as a leading sports tourism hub on the African continent.”
Beyond cargo, Kenya Airways is transporting rally officials, international teams, spare parts, spectators, and fans from across the world to Kenya for the event. The airline has also invested in the FIA Rally Star programme to develop young Kenyan talent and support the next generation of local rally drivers.
The 2026 edition presents additional environmental challenges, with recent heavy rains raising the prospect that the traditionally dusty Naivasha stages could be transformed into muddy terrain, adding another unpredictable dimension to an event already known for pushing cars and crews to their limits.
