NAIROBI, Kenya, October 12- A bumper entry of 50 drivers, with 41 under the KCB Kenya National Rally Championship category and nine under the two-wheel drive category has confirmed participation in the duel.
Four Ugandans led by seasoned driver, Jas Mangat are also staking a claim on the ultimate prize of the penultimate round of the championship.
Peter Horsey who is the road sweeper for the rally will be followed by renowned drivers, Carl Tundo, Baldel Chager and Lee Rose at the flag-off. Peter, the 2010 African Pirelli Star Driver, will team up with younger brother Alex in a two car team, backed by Civicon Transport, for the Kilifi based rally.
The rally runs between October 16 and October 17 in Kilifi and will be flagged off by area MP, Hon. Benedict Ngunda at the KCB branch office.
Competitors will drive through to Ganze where drivers and other bank staff will undertake a corporate social responsibility project at Mtsara wa Tsatsu Primary School.
“The KCB Amana Banking Rally is without doubt billed to be the toughest, most popular and exciting event,” said Mr Tom Ndalo, Head of Personal Banking and KCB Advantage.
Ndalo told a press briefing at Kencom house that KCB staff in Kilifi and the Mombasa Motor Club officials who are the main organizers of the event have spent the better part of the week trying to ensure the route course is in good condition.
The rally is also meant to showcase new talent as more indigenous communities join the competitions.
The KCB Group rally series, Ndalo noted, has helped the bank to; reposition its brand in the regional market, promote its products and services as well as enhance community engagements with the bank and its key stakeholders in Kenya, Uganda, Southern Sudan, Tanzania and Rwanda.
He said that to fulfil the bank’s commitment to impacting positively in communities where they operate, the KCB Amana Banking Rally has lined up support for the needy school in Ganze.
The bank will spend KShs 213,500 to support the Mtsara wa Tsatsu school in purchasing desks. Rally co-sponsors, Iway Africa has also injected KShs 35,000 to support the completion of a water project in the school – bringing the total donation to the school to KShs 248,500.
“We have also mobilised our employees, friends and other well-wishers from the local community to participate in a tree planting exercise at the school. The bank will plant 30,000 seedlings,” Ndalo said.