Carl Tundo: Government Confirms Veteran Driver as New Safari Rally Boss

The government has appointed veteran rally driver Carl Tundo as the Chief Executive Officer of the WRC Rally Project through a special Kenya Gazette Notice number 8268, issued on Saturday by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya.

The CS revoked the appointment of Charles Gacheru, who was appointed in February 2024 to serve on a three-year term.

“It is notified for general information of the public that pursuant to Gazette Notice No 1769 of 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports appoints Carl Tundo to the Chief Executive Officer of the World rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Project and Secretary to the Oversight Team for the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Project, with effect from 5th June 2026. The appointment of Charles Gacheru is revoked,” says the notice.

Tundo’s appointment comes hot on the heels of a complete change of guard after the old secretariat appointed in 2024 was officially disbanded on May 27, 2026.

He was the chairman of the Local Organising Committee in the 2023 team appointed by former Sports CS Ababu Namwamba deputised by Brian Mutembei.

The latest development is an indication that although President William Ruto announced that the private sector will, in the future, fund the WRC Safari Rally, the government is expected to continue playing an important role in the management of the event.

Tundo’s first order of business is to secure the 2027 WRC Safari Rally in the world championship calendar. He was called in to secure the 2026 WRC Safari rally, which was facing financial and management challenges

Several countries have already secured long-term contracts in the WRC, including Scotland and Spain this year, while the United States looks set to join the calendar in 2027.