Undercurrents within motor sport hindering bid to reclaim global status

Chances of the once famous Safari Rally being re-admitted into the World Rally Championship circuit are almost null if the undercurrents within Kenya Motorsports Sport Foundation (KMSF) headlined by integrity issues, Standard Sports can reveal.

Newly elected chairman Phineas Kimathi has taken bold steps of Safari Rally returning to the global series by 2018 after meeting FIA president Jean Todt, Ari Vatanen (1983 Safari Rally champion) and Michelle Mouton in Turin, Italy.

Safari was struck off from the global series after Kenya failed to meet certain key conditions set by (International Automobile Federation (FIA).

But now, the international organisation is reportedly open to the idea if only KMSF can secure financial and safety guarantees from Kenya government.

Although Kimathi got FIA’s assurances in principle, serious doubts abound if KMSF, who are supposed to secure financial and safety guarantees from Kenya Government, fails to confront the ghosts of corruption within its rank and file. If not exorcised, the clamour for the WRC status for Safari Rally could at best remain a pipedream.

Failure to release the 2014/2015 audit report, conflict of interest, back-stabbing, organisational bottle necks in the local championship and mistrust have all conspired to throttle attempts of giving back Kenyans the historical motoring event.

The postponement, for the umpteenth time, of 2015 KMSF Awards ceremony that were due to be held this weekend, has only helped to lift the lid on the battle of long knives within local rally scene.

A section of the rally fraternity feels the postponement of the award ceremony that should have been held in January, this time occasioned by the absence of Jessi Chatthe, who is said to have gone to the UK to attend to a family engagement, is a symptom of what is ailing KSMF. Chatthe is the overwhelming favourite for the top award after winning the Kenyan and Africa series last year.

On Thursday, the Kenya Rally Drivers Association called for an emergency stakeholders meeting at Carnivore Nairobi, but skipped by a section of the motorsport fraternity.

“Drivers, riders, and all officials of all motorsport disciplines are members of clubs which have representation on the 12-member KMSF Board of directors. You are a member of a club (who you hopefully) have elected a director to the board who you are also complaining about. Perhaps, it was time KRDA fought to have representation in the board,” Paul Bailey, a former Rally driver and now Service Manager of Nairobi Workshops, wrote in declining the invite.

The KRDA meeting went ahead anyway with the drivers issuing an ultimatum that the members of the Rally Commission, whose mandate expired in March leave the stage, failure to which they will not take part in Nanyuki leg of the Kenya National Rally Championship.

KMSF, however, said they are open to structured engagements arguing the meeting the KRDA convened was not attended by top drivers, anyway.

“Carl Tundo, also director of the KMSF, among others, was not present in the meeting. The boycott threat is untenable because that would jeopardise sponsorship of some drivers.”

Most of the companies are associated with KMSF directors including Kibos team, which sponsors Jessi Chatthe, Menengai Oil (Carl Tundo and Issa Amwari) and  Kabras Sugar  (former champion Baldev Chager and Onka Rai).

The sparring between the Rally stakeholders is just but a tip of the rhinoceros.

Kenya Commercial Bank, which has sponsored the National Rally Championship since 2003 stepped down as the official sponsors instead took up the role of being the official bankers of KMSF events.

In doing so, KCB through its Marketing and Communications Director Angela Mwirigi, said, “The Bank has over the last one year reviewed its sponsorships portfolio to reflect the bank’s overall strategic vision, explaining why we have taken this tangent.”

Insiders, however, insist KCB’s reason for stepping down was just but a diplomatic language.

“Their exit is just a culmination of the upheaval within KMSF. There is too much infighting within it. One had hoped that with the election of Kimathi (Phineas) as KMSF chairman, there would be progress. He is doing his work well but he must also confront issues raised so he can help KMSF move forward and return Safari Rally to WRC,” said a local rally analyst who did not wish to be named.

The contents of the 2014/2015 audit report of the KMSF financials remains a thorny issue despite costing the foundation Sh1.5 million to conduct. A section of the rally stakeholders want the audit dating back to 2007 be conducted, while another is content with the 2014/2015 findings.

According to observers, either report does not make good reading for the entire establishment.

However, KMSF maintains, “As for the Audit, the report is yet to be adopted by and tabled at the annual General Meeting where all stakeholders are invited and are free to ask any questions when in doubt. All their grievances will be addressed at the floor of the AGM.”

Returning the Safari Rally to the WRC status was one Jubilee Coalition’s promises together with building “five world class stadia.”

With the construction of the stadia now consigned in the dustbin, Kimathi’s work is cut out if he is to return Safari Rally on the WRC calendar.

According to yet another KMSF insider, reclaiming the World Rally Championship status is an elephantine task that would need rolling up of sleeves by the stakeholders.

“In fact, reclaiming the WRC status for Safari Rally may not happen in my and your lifetime,” said the insider when asked whether the 2018 target is feasible.

KMSF chairman Phineas Kimathi attended the FIA Sport Conference and held discussions with the FIA WRC Promoter, who are the commercial arm of the global rallying body. WRC Promoter negotiates the potential candidates on television rights, sponsorship deals and general organisation.

“In our case, we already have a written commitment from FIA stating that the Safari fits into the WRC strategic plan to make the championship a truly world class event,” Kimathi told Standard Sports.

“FIA wants the Safari to be held in totally closed roads for safety purposes. KMFS has achieved 75% target in 2015 Safari Rally. KMSF has also procured a WRC standard timing system from Liquid Telecom sponsorship. FIA has restored training and communication grant of about Sh11million. The first training was held in June this year,” Kimathi said.

“Therefore it is not that reclaiming WRC status is unachievable

KMSF are set out to hold a candidate rally event next year to test their ability to organise a world class event that would tempt FIA to consider Kenya.

“It won’t count for anything with the undercurrents with KMSF,” the insider said. “Egos, clamour for power, favouritism, officials overstaying in supposedly elective positions including in the Rally Commission,” the insider said.

“Well, FIA wants $5 million (roughly Sh500m) in fees. You have not even touched on funds to run the actual event. Where is that money going to come from when sponsors are quietly leaving the scene?”  The exit of KCB followed of the quiet departure of iWay Africa, ICEA Lions, ALS and Shell.

“On the contrary,” Kimathi said, “KCB has released its title sponsorship status to allow us to go and sell the title for whatever bid.”

“More sponsors are lining up to be associated with KMSF. Liquid Telecom has sponsored the procurement of timing system at the cost of Sh20 million, Red Bull has given Sh2million plus products for competitors.”

He added: “Toyota Kenya has given a race opening car. The car will be built to Rally specifications.”

Kimathi admitted that re-admission to the WRC will not be a walk in the park.

“We require concerted efforts of all stakeholders. I have been invited to observe the Rally of Germany and I will be in Addis Ababa to pitch for Safari’s re-admission to the Africa Rally Championship next year. But this will not come on a silver platter as we will first the required to re-organise our house.”