Hoteliers and tourism players in Naivasha have called on the government to push for an extension of Kenya’s World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally hosting rights beyond 2026, citing the event’s massive economic impact.
The annual motorsport spectacle has turned Naivasha into a tourism goldmine, attracting local and international revellers in droves.
Hotels, restaurants and entertainment spots are enjoying booming business, with record bookings and increased footfall injecting fresh energy into the hospitality sector.
Susan Muli, manager of Grand Tiara Hotel, revealed the rally has driven full occupancy across major hotels, forcing businesses to explore alternative accommodation options such as serviced apartments, boutique hotels, camps and Airbnb.
“We are capitalising majorly on our competence and resourcefulness. We have had to set up additional tents and outdoor seating areas to cater for the overwhelming number of guests checking in,” she explained.
Muli emphasised that since the rally’s return to Kenya in 2021, the hospitality industry has been one of its biggest beneficiaries.
“We have had a lot of investments in serviced apartments, hotels, boutique hotels and guest houses in the last five years since the rally returned to Kenya. The trickle-down effect has been immense, with new petrol stations, shops and supermarkets sprouting up to cater to the influx of visitors.”
Beyond hotels and restaurants, local suppliers and traders are also cashing in. Ken Mugo, who runs a popular Nyama Choma joint in Naivasha, said business has skyrocketed.
“On a normal weekend, we do about five to eight goats a day, but as of Wednesday, a weekday, we had sold eight by mid-day. At the club, we have seen an 80 per cent improvement in sales and we have had to outsource drinks and supplies to meet the demand.”
