By RI Sports Media Team | March 13, 2026
Relentless overnight rain forced organisers to cancel the second pass of the Camp Moran stage on Friday morning after the route deteriorated into deep standing water and thick slush, making the section impassable.
The development adds an early layer of unpredictability to the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya, where changing weather conditions have already begun to reshape the competition across the Naivasha stages.
Crews had begun the rally on Thursday afternoon with a demanding opening loop that quickly tested both driver precision and vehicle durability.
Camp Moran 1 (24.35 km) opened the rally with a challenging stage incorporating sections of the historic Sleeping Warrior route. The surface was already heavily soaked, leaving crews to navigate mud-filled sections and waterlogged tracks.
The day concluded with Mzabibu 1 (8.86 km), a shorter but technical run through the vineyard trails of Morendat Farm. The narrow grass-lined tracks required careful control before crews returned to the Naivasha service park
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Among the Kenyan crews beginning their campaign were the mother-and-daughter pairing of Tinashe and Caroline Gatimu, competing in a newly prepared Ford Fiesta R2.
Following Wednesday’s scrutineering, the team expressed confidence in the car’s readiness.
“The Gatimus were happy with scrutineering and were happy that the car passed with flying colours,” the team said after the inspection.
Despite the muddy conditions on Thursday’s stages, the pair reported a steady start.
“Yesterday’s stages it was muddy, but we had good visibility,” said the Gatimus.
With the cancellation of Friday’s Camp Moran second pass, the rally now moves toward the Loldia and Kedong stages as crews continue to navigate changing weather and demanding terrain.
