Kenya’s Rally Governance Battle Hits the Handbrake… For Now
By Mwambazi Lawrence
Ladies and gentlemen, forget the Safari Rally the real action is happening in the Motorsport Courtroom Grand Prix. In one corner, the Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF), the reigning champion of rally governance. In the other, the fresh but fast-rising contender, Motorsports Kenya. The prize? Control of the sport’s steering wheel… and, let’s be honest, bragging rights that would make even a rally driver’s ego blush.
Yesterday, KMSF pulled off a daring manoeuvre worthy of Sebastien Loeb himself a perfectly timed legal handbrake turn when the High Court granted them a stay order, temporarily halting the Sports Disputes Tribunal’s (SDT) ruling that had told the Sports Registrar to hand the keys of Kenyan motorsport over to Motorsports Kenya.
KMSF Chair Jim Kahumbura emerged from the pits grinning like a co-driver who just found out the next stage is downhill all the way.
“We welcome the Court’s decision as it allows for a fair and transparent process in determining the rightful national governing body for motorsport,” Kahumbura said, possibly while tightening his imaginary race harness.
For those just joining this race, last Friday SDT waved a very official black flag at KMSF, ruling they hadn’t complied with the Sports Act 2013. Motorsports Kenya, on the other hand, apparently passed the scrutineering test with zero penalties and a clean windscreen. The SDT then instructed Sports Registrar Rose Wasike to recognise Motorsports Kenya and gave them a 90-day countdown to hold elections and launch a membership drive the motorsport equivalent of handing them a fresh set of Hankook tyres, a tank full of Avgas, and telling them, “Go win the championship.”
But KMSF wasn’t about to let that happen without flooring the accelerator. They lodged an appeal with the High Court, and in true rally style, the legal pace notes read: “Flat out over crest into Stay Order.”
Now, the registration process is parked in the service park until the next competitive stage on 23rd September 2025, where both teams will go head-to-head again this time in front of the High Court, with the judge acting as Clerk of the Course.
Meanwhile, KMSF says they’re still focused on bigger things namely, the World Rally Championship Safari Rally.
“We’re awaiting confirmation of the Africa Rally Championship dates,” KMSF announced, sounding like a crew chief who just shrugged off a gearbox failure mid-season.
Motorsports Kenya, however, hasn’t stalled. They’ve announced plans to roll out their roadmap to comply with SDT’s orders, which sounds suspiciously like a reconnaissance run to check the next stage before going flat out.
.For now, the motorsport community in Kenya waits, popcorn in hand, because whether on the gravel or in the courtroom, this championship fight is far from over and the stages are only getting bumpier.
About The Author
