To some Kenyans Naivasha is a resort city akin to the Las Vegas in the United States – an escape valve from the hustle and bustle of the capital, Nairobi. To others, Naivasha is an outright Sin City with everything on offer from drugs, illicit sex, thuggery and money-laundering, among others.

Whatever the reputation, the town’s rising profile as the centre of motorsport will be put to test this weekend during the fourth edition of the World Rally Championship (WRC).

Already, thousands of local and international Safari Rally enthusiasts are camping in the Sin City in Naivasha for a thrilling fourth edition of World Rally Championship (WRC) as top drivers’ battle for the coveted title.

The competition, which kicked off in Naivasha on Friday after President Ruto flagged it off at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium, is expected to push up local tourism inflows as small and large businesses open their doors for buyers.

Hotels, camping services and Air, Bed and Breakfast [Airbnb] with thousands of bed units are fully booked for the three-day event enabling them to recover from a slow start to the year.

According to David Mwangi, Chairman of Nakuru County Tourism Association, over 100,000 rally lovers were expected in the town for the three-day event despite the harsh economic conditions in the country.

Mwangi said the rally has hoisted Kenya and especially Naivasha town to the level of a key destination to both local and international tourists, thanks to friendly locals, warm weather, alluring lake and world class cuisines.

To ensure a seamless event, hundreds of the security officers have been lined up at key service points to control traffic, give to speeding rally cars way and protect enthusiasts from harm.

Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Josiah Odongo said that partying and hawking along Moi South Lake, a key link road to rally routes remained banned. Odongo said that over 800 police officers were deployed for the three-day competition urging members of the public to obey the law and follow traffic rules.

Despite the scorching sun and dusty roads, rally lovers arrived in dozens at marked rally routes in Naivasha to witness the battle of man and machine. Among them are dozens of fans from Uganda and Rwanda who braved the hot weather to cheer their favourite drivers as they vroomed off in seconds.

The tourists wore their national colours and covered themselves in their country’s flags – a show of nationalism that is becoming a tradition of the annual event. According to James Wenangi from Jinja in Uganda, he is ready for the thrill of the yearly moment. He said the past three rallies were etched in their memories, which is why they are back for more thrill.

He lauded Kenyans for their generosity and welcoming nature, which has seen hundreds of fellow Africans join them to celebrate and enjoy the sporting event. Fellow countryman, Adam Namono, noted that the dusty and the hot weather would not deter them from watching the global event.

He however noted that the number of fans is lower compared to last year but is optimistic that this would rise in the coming days.

“We are really excited to be in Kenya for the rally and we are looking forward to the night life so that we can have more fun,” he said.

According to a Kenyan fan, Grace Wanjiku, the competition has brought back memories of the iconic Safari Rally with the younger generation getting a feel of the thrill, which until the return of Safari Rally, existed only fables told by the parents and grandparents.

Wanjiku said the four-year-old event has put Kenya on the world map and showcased its hospitality and natural attractions to millions of fans around the world. One of the traders Mary Njeri was, however, optimistic that the numbers could rise by the evening and over the weekend as more fans travelled from Nairobi.

“The first day is always slow but we are sure that things will change over the weekend as more revellers arrive in the town,” she said.

According to one of the traders Paul Kiragu who had travelled from Nairobi, business was yet to pick up adding that they were finalizing the last preparations.

“We have not officially started the business but we hope that rally fans and revellers will visit this place to make merry and do business,” he said.

The sentiments were echoed by another trader Ciku Kamau who said that they were optimistic that the numbers of revellers would rise despite the location of the village from Naivasha town.

“We hope that despite the distance those seeking to do business will arrive in the tens as we have so many things to offer until Sunday when the rally comes to an end,” she said.

This year’s rally held features a strong list of drivers including 10 top-level Rally1 cars and 16 WRC2 entries, with notable drivers like Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanperä, Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Erastus Gichohi