The National Police Service (NPS) has issued a traffic advisory warning motorists of expected traffic disruption on major routes within the city and the route to Naivasha.
According to a police statement, motorists plying Thika Superhighway Road will experience disruptions as World Safari Rally (WRC) kicks off on Thursday, June 23.
Other than Thika Superhighway, Uhuru Highway is also expected to experience traffic disruption when rally officially starts.
Nairobi area Traffic Enforcement officer Vitalis Otieno explained that most city roads will be partially closed to motorists to pave way for the Safari Rally flag-off at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
A car goes airborne during a past safari rally competition
File “As the official World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally is a very important event not only Kenya but worldwide, I would like to urge motorists to avoid Uhuru Highway and Thika Road as the traffic will be disrupted for several hours,” Vitalis explained.
The presence of President Uhuru Kenyatta who is expected to officially open the motorsport event will also contribute to traffic snarl up in the city.
According to Safari rally organisers, the vehicles will drive through Parliament Road, Haile Selassie Avenue, Uhuru Highway, Wangari Mathai Road and head back to Ngomongo, Kasarani via Thika Superhighway.
On Wednesday, June 22, NPS tasked a senior road safety officer Boniface Otieno with ensuring the event goes on seamlessly.
Through a statement, NPS explained that the cops will play a critical role both from the front end and back end to ensure all participants enjoy themselves and also spectators are protected.
“NPS is fully engaged in offering critical services on both the frontline and behind the scenes. Our officers will be at hand to ensure security provision, road safety advisory, and all safety regulations are enforced to the letter,” the NPS statement read in part.
They further urged the public to adhere to the directives of the organisers and the Police to ensure the event is a success.
The motor racing event will be held for over four days from Thursday, June 23 to Sunday, June 26. It will mark the sixty-ninth running of the Safari Rally.
On the other hand, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has set up an Air Traffic Control and Flight Information Service Desk to guide over fifteen helicopters around the restricted airspace during the four-day rally event.
The event would be the sixth round of the 2022 World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2, and World Rally Championship-3. The 2022 event would be based in Nairobi and is set to be contested over nineteen special stages covering a competitive distance of 363.44km.
The competition has different sections but the final lap will be in Naivasha.
President Uhuru Kenyatta enters a rally car driven by Ian Dancun during the KCB Safari Rally flagging off ceremony at KICC Nairobi, on September 21, 2014.
The Standard
