A group of youth from Naivasha, Nobles Consortium, have come together to pen a message to Sports Cabinet Secretary, Ababu Namwamba, seeking youth inclusivity in the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC), set to kick off during the Easter holiday, between March 28 and March 30, 2024.

In an interview with Mtaa Wangu, Nobles Consortium Chairman, Simon Wakaba Wambui, says the group is a representation of youth from the eight wards in Naivasha who felt they have been side-lined as far as the Safari rally activities are concerned.

Expounding on the tweet posted on by the group, Mr. Wakaba says that youth from Naivasha have always been left out in major decision-making processes. Further mentioning that they want to be engaged and be among decision makers, rather than having people decide on their behalf.

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He notes that with the 2023 Safari Rally, they had to protest in their streets since they were not given considerations on job opportunities.

Nonetheless, they chose to be optimistic this year and started expressing their interest in being involved in the 2024 WRC.

However, their efforts to reach the sports CS have borne no fruits resulting in them reaching out to him through the, Nakuru County Sport Department and hashtags like ‘ifikie Waziri Namwamba’, ‘Naivasha WRC 2024’ and ‘Youth Inclusivity’.

“Outsiders are contracted to work here, whereas many youth here are jobless and ready to work. We understand some jobs like being marshals needs training and some skill attached to it, but does collecting litter need any training?” he laments.

He noted that they are not asking for much, “In their long term plan, let the international World Championship Rally officials come up with a legacy project that they can leave behind, like an entertainment hub or something grand. At the moment, let us get the job opportunities and be included in the entertainment space ahead of the rally launching,” he notes.

On the other hand, Nakuru County Sport CECM, Josephine Achieng’, says that she had a sitting with the said group from Naivasha and from the grievances they aired, she addressed a letter to the Ministry of Sports and the WRC officials, seeking the recruitment of the youths from Naivasha.

“I sent out the letters mid-January ,2024 addressing several issues including waste management, job opportunities, creating of feeder roads to ease heavy traffic experienced during WRC and a memorable Corporate social responsibility (CSR) project that could help the youth in regards to this year’s rally,” she explains.

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She adds that what was communicated to her is that once the WRC management staff was set, they would be called in for a meeting to discuss their request.

“My hope is that our needs as a county are heard and youth from this region get jobs,” she says.

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Ifikie Waziri Namwamba: Naivasha youth demand to be included in WRC event

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