Kenyan rally drivers decry discrimination at WRC awards ceremony

A section of Kenyan rally drivers have detailed what they term as the drama and confusion which characterized the recently-concluded WRC Safari Rally prize-giving ceremony.

Outraged and deeply offended, the drivers allege that they experienced discrimination, and were treated as second-class drivers in their home country by top WRC honchos and leadership.

While it is every driver's pride to go up the podium, get a round of applause and receive an award from an esteemed guest (in this case, the President) the drivers have now revealed that the entire event was a shambolic mess which thoroughly dehumanized and disenfranchised them.

Three days after the conclusion of the rally, Kenyan drivers Joe Kariuki, Andrew Muiruri and Issa Amwari have now opened up on the fiasco that they say unfolded at the Service Park.

The drivers have laid the blame squarely at the feet of the WRC/KNRC top officials who they say treated them in a manner that was undignified and unprofessional.

"It was a total shame at the podium. Soon as they had conferred the awards to these big shots, alongside the President and all the media present, we were left to scramble amongst ourselves for awards. It was total chaos - you cannot believe that my navigator John Ngugi and I were left stranded on stage as a female usher passed our award to us," Joe lamented.

According to Joe, who was ranked at Number 6 and was driving a left-hand Subaru N14, the treatment meted on some of the Kenyan drivers was unwarranted and uncalled for considering that they went through the same rigorous practice and paid the same amount of money required to participate of the motoring sport.

"We went through all the required regulations and passed all the tests. We were at the practice, we paid the money any driver was required to pay to enter the competition. I don't understand how, after the visiting drivers had been awarded, we were just left stranded, confused at the podium," he said.

Joe also said that, being a home-grown talent himself, he would have been happy to receive his award from, at the very least, the area Governor.

"I'm born and bred in Naivasha. When we arrived here, hundreds of my Naivasha fans came out screaming my name. And after it all, I have to receive my award from a casual model? Not even, at least, from my area Governor!? What happened to recognising homegrown talent? " Joe posed.

On his part, Issa Amwari, a Kenyan who emerged position four in the WRC/KNRC stage and was driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, says that it was quite humiliating to have to be given an award by casual officials and not, at least, the rally's CEO.

"It was a good thing to have the President and the top officials at the Service Park. It would have been better to have him, or at least, some top rally official award us. That was not the case. I got my award after all the big guests had left," he said.

The drivers say their awarding ceremony was more of a contemptuous charade which looked something like a terrible Nigerian comedy skit.

"It was pure madness! We were left to award ourselves with no official present. We were actually awarded by a model who didn't even want to be in the photo. It was like a scene from a Nigerian movie," Joe Kariuki's navigator John Ngugi said.

Another driver Andrew Muiruri, who emerged number 12 and raced using a Subaru Impreza, has also blasted the prejudice shown to other drivers after he and his compatriots were left to fight heavy traffic on their last lap to the Service Park, battling with crowds and other motorists, for over 45 minutes.

"As we were leaving Hell's Gate, on our way to the final spot, we realized that the road had been opened up and now, we had to struggle with crazy traffic as we fought to reach Service Park," he said.

"Ordinarily, the road should be closed off until all drivers have cleared out but after the top drivers with better cars had crossed that area, they no longer manned the road leaving us struggling with exceedingly heavy traffic like ordinary drivers. We had to overlap as we feared our fuel might run out," he said.

Despite performing exemplarily, the disappointed drivers say they now feel demoralised and also add they they still have a bone to pick with the top authorities at the WRC.

"This is a matter we won't take lightly. We're some of the finest drivers in town. It took a lot to get to where we were, to be able to get to the podium. And then you're treated like a second option? In your own country? This is not the way to run the WRC in Kenya! Absolutely not!" An angry Ngugi added.