For Meshack Simiyu, the roar of engines and the sight of cars sliding sideways around the track was enough reason to spend his weekend at the Rift Valley Motor and Sports Club in Maili Saba.

‎‎Simiyu, the CEO of Metrosports Kenya, attended the inaugural Crabmen East Africa drifting event not as a competitor, but as a fan eager to experience a motorsport discipline that is gradually gaining popularity in the region.

‎‎By the second day of the event, he was already soaking in the atmosphere as drivers from Kenya and other East African countries battled for attention on the track.

Fans follow a drifting car during the Crabmen Drifting Event

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU/ MTAA WANGU

‎‎Simiyu says the experience had been exciting, adding that he was at the event to support Team Kenya and the local drifters. He also expresses hope that Nakuru would host more events of a similar nature, saying they would give motorsport enthusiasts an opportunity to experience drifting closer to home.

‎‎The two-day event brought together more than 24 drivers, including gymkhana competitors and 19 drifters drawn from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

Drifting car passes by the fan who attended the Crabmen Drifting Event

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU/ MTAA WANGU

‎‎For Jin Lu, founder of Crab Men East Africa Drifting Academy based in Mogotio, Baringo County, the event marked an important step in introducing drifting to a wider audience in Nakuru.

‎‎Lu explains that the academy organised the event as part of its efforts to promote drifting and motorsports in East Africa. He says the academy also wanted to use such events to introduce more people to drifting, particularly in a country where motorsport is largely associated with safari rallying.

Jin Lu, founder of Crab Men East Africa Drifting Academy during the Crabmen Drifting Event.

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU/ MTAA WANGU

‎‎According to Lu, the first Nakuru event was also an opportunity to test the venue and understand how fans responded to drifting.

‎‎"We are already looking at holding another, bigger event in the county within the next two to three months," he indicates.

‎‎He says the academy hopes to make Nakuru a regular destination for its motorsport events, combining drifting and gymkhana while giving drivers and fans more opportunities to participate.

Drifting car during the Crabmen Drifting Event

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU/ MTAA WANGU

‎‎The event also marked a new beginning for the Rift Valley Motor and Sports Club, with its chairman, Albert Munyoki, saying the club hopes to establish Nakuru as a home for drifting and gymkhana in Kenya.

‎‎He further says the club is keen to improve its facilities by expanding the track and introducing additional motorsport activities, including local competitions.

‎‎However, Munyoki notes that achieving those plans would require greater support, particularly from the county government.

Fans during the Crabmen Drifting Event

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU/ MTAA WANGU

‎‎"The club, has existed for more than 50 years, also serves the community by providing its facilities for activities such as weekend skating training for children," he says.

‎‎He appeals for support to improve the club’s infrastructure and expand its sporting activities.

‎‎For fans like Simiyu, the experience was not only about watching cars drift, but also about witnessing the beginning of what could become a regular fixture on Nakuru’s sporting calendar.

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Motorsports fans crave for more action after electrifying drifting event in Maili saba

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Muthoni Wanjiku