No CSR event in sight for Naivasha youth as WRC Safari rally nears
Andrew Opiyo a youth leader in Naivasha.
Last year, reports came out concerning youth in Naivasha who went out to the streets to protest the lack of inclusion in the World Rally Championship (WRC) event by the organisers.
According to Andrew Opiyo, a youth leader of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) in Naivasha the biggest bone of contention was what they considered lack of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs by WRC organisers that would directly benefit the youth.
"Our expectation has always been that with the coming of WRC, we would be the first to benefit in terms of jobs," he said.
Opiyo goes ahead to say that the youth have heard of a tree planting exercise carried out in Kasarani, but nothing happens in Naivasha town which hosts the main event.
"A lot of money is always put into the event by the government and sponsors yet we never get to see it trickled down to us," he laments.
According to an article by the Kenya News Agency, in last year's event the WRC organizers put Sh 5 billion in the event, with sponsors such as Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) putting in sh. 150 million to support the rally.
"Whenever the organizers come, they will pick like 10-15 youth who are given manual jobs to maybe clear the bushes but on the D-day, we get to see totally new faces coming in to do all the casual jobs that youth in Naivasha can do," he laments.
We also spoke to Esther Mbuthia who concurs with the sentiments of Andrew.
"Indeed for the last three years the youth of Naivasha have been left behind when it comes to having a hand in the WRC events," she said.
In a previous interview with Mtaa Wangu, Nakuru County Sport CECM, Josephine Achieng’, said she had addressed a letter to the Ministry of Sports and the WRC officials, seeking recruitment of youth from Naivasha.
“I sent out the letters mid-January ,2024 addressing several issues including waste management, job opportunities, creating of feeder roads to ease heavy traffic experienced during WRC and a memorable Corporate social responsibility (CSR) project that could help the youth in regards to this year’s rally,” she said.
With less than two weeks to the WRC safari rally, the youth can only wait and see.