In a Daily Nation article(July 4 2020) Peter Njenga, the Safari Rally Media Director, took to task environmentalists he said were creating a tirade instead of “cashing in” on the idea that the WRC Safari Rally event planned for June 2020 (now rescheduled for June 2021) would run a stage through the Hells Gate National Park.
(read the article here Environmentalists made a point)
Environmentalists don’t cash in or sell anything. That’s the point! They are principled – there can be no compromise about what they stand for. A protected area should not be unprotected even for a second – especially for commercial interests. This is an environmentalist’s “raison d’etre”.
Events that will disrupt an ecosystem are sure to do so negatively. We are seeing this reality everywhere in Kenya today. Condoning this in protected areas is nothing short of criminal.
In Hell’s Gate, The ‘Love/Koroga Festival’ produced massive volumes of noise pollution and equal amounts of garbage and human pollution. Camps, lodges and residents on the Moi South Lake road up to 4 kilometres away, were shocked by the noise that weekend, for over 48 hours non stop, despite assurances from the relevant authorities. The noise passing as ‘music’ echoing off the cliffs must have caused huge distress to the wildlife whose home that is. But… they are only vultures, aren’t they? Why the fuss? And this event was given a ‘positive verdict’ by KWS scientists. Presumably the same scientists that gave a positive verdict to the infamous translocation of 11 endangered rhinos, who all subsequently died, with no one taking any responsibility for the travesty except to say the equivalent of “Oops!”
National Parks are protected areas for a reason, definitely not for cashing in even if vested interests will see only dollar signs. Sadly, Njenga also uses disinformation and half truths to pitch the Safari Rally agenda and insult environmentalists.
Environmentalists did fight a lonely fight for the Marabou storks on Uhuru Highway. But, these poor creatures did not reside in a National Park created specifically to protect them so it was a lost battle as the ‘Cash In Brigade” circumvented environmental concerns. Where are they now after being evicted? Who knows, but sadly only the environmentalists care. But now Safari Rally wants to invade the parks as well and stoop to insult those who object to this. He mentions 800 mini buses in the Mara, knowing these are spread over hundreds of kilometres of road and track, not just the single one through Hells gate. And while ‘controlled’, still they are a concern for environmentalists. Tellingly Njenga presents these two ‘failings’ as a reason to condone further ‘failings’. Safari Rally also unwittingly embroils a hallowed event in unnecessary conflict by running a completely unnecessary stage.
Njenga is certainly not being fair to all creatures rural, if the creatures urban are allowed to invade their habitat. How are you being fair to the rural creature who has no malice and will not invade your home in return?
Consider also, running this stage would set a precedent that can then be abused by the National Rally Championship events as well? Hmmm….Principles.
The “African Savannah and wildlife backdrops” he seeks are not in Hells Gate National Park. This is an area visitors go to cycle, hike trails, climb rocks and cliffs, picnic quietly, peacefully.. Savannahs by definition are open plains so again, why Hells Gate?
By Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK – Ruppell’s Griffon VultureUploaded by Magnus Manske, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21115222
Motorsport is not eco friendly, a fact accepted by all including the WRC and FIA.
Knowing this and, that an 11 kilometre “Power Stage” will attract thousands of paying spectators, and the garbage and destruction they will leave behind, is inviting controversy. Why do it? Money? TV?
Why would the WRC and FIA court this potentially huge problem?
Let’s drag Jean Todt and Michelle Mouton, both of whom are eminently popular and respected, into this looming travesty and watch the international outcry. Why would Safari Rally put them in a difficult position? You are putting your benefactors in an awkward place too.
The Ruppell’s vulture is endangered and inhabits just a single protected environment. Only one. Why compromise this in any way? With hundreds of kilometres of race worthy roads why do you need to upset a fragile ecosystem for the sake of a TV spectacle?
No right thinking scientist will tell you what effect 40+ rally cars, driven through an ecosystem at over 200 kilometres per hour for 2 hours will have, until weeks, months or years after the fact. You do not need to be a scientist to have a good guess though. Add recce cars, chase cars and helicopters, drunk spectators…. This is the reality Njenga, not traffic jams on Uhuru Highway or minibuses in the Mara.
When the Safari Rally was a real event of over 3000 kilometres distance, it did not encroach on the National Parks, and the whole world knew all about Kenya’s allure, so why is it necessary to provoke controversy to achieve the same now? Safari Rally exited the world stage with a tainted image, and you seek to taint it as we return 20 years later.
I also wonder which rallies Njenga is watching. No one goes to see ‘humming’ rally cars. Huge amounts of noise, exhaust fumes, dust and ‘action’ are what it’s all about. That’s why we are called “petrol heads”. That’s why, with good reason, environmentalists don’t much like us. So why invite the negativity?
But if you have your way then sure, money is King and they are after all only vultures, buffalo, gazelle, so who cares, right? We’re already writing off the Big 5, so cash in while you can Safari Rally!
Allure vs destruction…Kenya yetu!
March 14, 2020
Last Updated on November 1, 2024
