Press Talking Notes By Amb. (Dr.) Amina Mohamed, Egh, Cav, Cabinet Secretary For Sports, Culture And Heritage During The Launch Of The Fia, Wrc Safari Rally Greening Legacy Project At The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani

1. The Legacy Project for the FIA, WRC Safari Rally, Kenya is anchored on two themes: environmental conservation and road safety education. 
2. Under the environmental conservation theme, our plan is to plant 18 Million trees over the next three to commemorate the 18 years that the Safari Rally was out of the World Rally Championship Circuit. We will target parts of our wetlands affected by deforestation, traditional Safari Rally routes and the spectator stage at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. 
3. This project is being driven by a multi-agency operation team in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Save Our Rivers Initiative.
4. The production and operation of Automobiles has a substantial effect on the environment. The world has produced 60.5 million cars this year. It is anticipated that by December 31st 2020, this number will increase to 67 million. Two new vehicles enter the roads every second. By 2030, this number will have risen to 4. Most automobile production companies have adopted a conscientious model through efficient automobile manufacturing to reduce the carbon footprint that is produced by fuel consumption and emission of greenhouse gases.
5. This Safari Rally Greening Legacy project joins the FIA/WRC family’s model of giving back to nature. Our target is to create a Safari Forest at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and plant trees along the traditional safari routes in Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Machakos, Makueni, Murang’a, Meru, Nyeri, Embu, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Kajiado, Laikipia, Isiolo, Narok, Nakuru and Nairobi Counties. 
6. This year, our aim is to start by planting 1 million trees. We have so far planted 100,000 trees in partnership with the Save Our Rivers Initiative. We will also join the Ministry of Environment and Forestry tree planting Initiative to support the massive re-greening efforts led by Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Keriako Tobiko. 
7. Regarding the second theme of road safety education, the WRC series and the Safari Rally in particular, is an event of the Federation’ Internationale Automobile (FIA). The President of FIA, Mr. John Todt is also the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety. FIA’s operational priority is action for road safety. In this regard, we will work closely with the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure Housing, Urban Development and Public Works and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in conjunction with the Kenya Automobile Association (AA), an affiliate of FIA charged with the responsibility of handling mobility to train the next generation of motorists on road safety, among other initiatives.
8. Kenya is ready to host the FIA/WRC Safari Rally on 24th to 27th June, 2021. We have put in place the necessary personnel, infrastructure and operational manuals to guarantee the most successful event in our rallying history. The profile of this event will convene in excess of 825 million visitors in the form of spectators, online games participants on Safari play station and global television viewership. We also expect to attract more than 1.5 billion online impressions making this event truly remarkable. In addition, it is estimated that this event will have a direct injection of approximately 6B Kenya Shillings in the form of foreign currency into the country. 
9. We are honoured by the invaluable support accorded to us by the FIA President Mr. Jean Todt and the entire FIA/WRC family and look forward to a very successful event. 
10. It is now my honour to declare the FIA/WRC Safari Rally Greening Legacy Project officially launched.