KCB Bank Kenya has spearheaded a tree planting exercise with the KCB racing team drivers at Naivasha Boys Boarding Primary School in a bid to protect the environment as the 2023 WRC Safari Rally edges closer.
2014 Motorsport Personality of The Year Nikhil Sachania, navigators Absalom Aswani, Deep Patel and Tauseef Khan joined the team led by KCB Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Judith Sidi in planting 500 trees within the school compound.
This remarkable endeavor holds immense significance as it aligns with the Government of Kenya’s ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. Demonstrating its dedication to the cause, KCB Bank has already planted over 160,000 trees in 943 schools, solidifying their commitment to sustainable practices.
Speaking during the tree planting exercise in Naivasha, KCB Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Judith Sidi said: “Our environment is facing alarming levels of degradation through deforestation, pollution, and climate change. Each of us must take responsibility and decisive action to address these challenges. We understand the pollution effects the rally brings about therefore we must step up and double our efforts to mitigate this before, during and after the Safari. This is in line with our adopted SDG 13- Climate action”
The 3 drivers Evans Kavisi, Nikhil Sachania and Karan Patel will be flying the Kenyan flag during this year’s edition of the WRC Safari Rally in Naivasha slated for June 22nd -25th.
KCB recently announced a Kshs. 150million sponsorship towards the support of the safari rally and the three drivers who form the KCB racing team.
The entry list for the legendary gravel event, billed as the toughest fixture on the WRC calendar, features 10 top-level Rally1 cars, 11 WRC2 runners plus a five-strong WRC3 line-up.
Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier – winners of the previous two editions – both field Toyota GR Yaris cars along with Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta, the Japanese star twice a podium finisher in Kenya have confirmed their participation.
As environmental stewards, KCB takes great pride and passion in leading by example by mainstreaming sustainability in motorsports. And what better time to showcase their unwavering commitment than ahead of the highly anticipated rally.
By actively involving students and rallying enthusiasts in these exhilarating initiatives, KCB aims to ignite a spark of eco-consciousness in the hearts of the next generation. With a target of planting 1.2 million trees by 2028, KCB remains resolute in their pursuit of sustainability.
BY BRIAN JAYSINS