History was not just made, it roared to life at the 36th Rhino Charge in Saimo Soi, Baringo County, and it was not just the thunder of engines that captivated the crowds.
Rhino Ark Executive Director, Christian Lambrechts, was quick to highlight a truly groundbreaking moment. “For the first time in Rhino Charge history, we have an electric car.”
For the communities of Kosile, the epicentre of the motorsport event, where the flag off took place, and the larger Saimo-Soi Ward, the “electric” feeling ran far deeper than a revolutionary 4×4 vehicle. It was the palpable sense of peace and hope that truly electrified the air.
In a region clouded by decades of banditry and cattle rustling, where tranquillity has been a stranger since independence, the Rhino Charge offered a breathtaking glimpse of what a peaceful future could feel like.
“This is what peace feels like. You can almost touch it. It is warm. It is real. Our land looks bright and beautiful again, it is like seeing it with new eyes,” said Joshua Arap Changwony, a community spectator from Ngaratuko village in Baringo North, his voice thick with emotion.
“When there is an attack, everything goes silent, but not the peaceful kind of quiet. It is the silence of fear. The silence of death. Even the birds stop singing. Today, it is different; we are hearing engines roar, people cheer, and children laugh. That noise, that joy, that is the sound of peace,” he smiled as he glanced at the crowd.
“This sport has made us talk to each other again. Look at those people who once looked at each other with suspicion; they are now cheering together, friends, because of Rhino Charge. When we talk about these monster cars, we talk peace in between the excitement, and it becomes an easy subject to discuss.”
Beyond the spectacle, the event delivered real economic impact, injecting Ksh 8.8 million into the local community to support a development project of their choice as hosts of the Charge.
Ksh 269.5 million was raised by the chargers towards conservation efforts.
“This particular venue, Saimo-Soi, is home to places like Ngaratuko and Yatia,” said Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi.
“I am sure you have not seen any bandits; it is a clear manifestation that this is not a bandit county,” he noted. “It is a county of great diversity and peacefulness. We have everything here.”
He went on to explain that Rhino Charge has been hosted in the county many times, “ Not once, not twice, this is the seventh time,” he emphasised.
Speaking during the award ceremony, Brigadier Joel Arimi, Commander of Operation Maliza Uhalifu (OMU), hailed the event as a milestone in Kenya’s journey towards lasting peace in the County.
OMU is a multi-agency security force comprising the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS), and National Police Reservists (NPRs), established to end cattle rustling and banditry in Baringo and other high-risk counties.
Brigadier Arimi noted that a region once marked by volatility and neglect has now transformed into a vibrant hub for sports for conservation, unity and national pride, hailing the prevailing peace. Indicating that, once synonymous with insecurity, the North Rift is fast becoming a model for successful security intervention and community resilience.
“Hosting a world-class event of this magnitude in an area previously referred to as a ‘bandit zone’ is no ordinary accomplishment. It signifies the tangible progress we have made, driven by the Kenya Defence Forces and our multi-agency partners, in close cooperation with the local communities,” Brigadier Arimi remarked.
According to Governor Cheboi, the choice of Baringo as the venue is deliberate: “It gives 4×4 motorsport enthusiasts the opportunity to ‘punish’ their four-wheel vehicles. These machines are built to conquer the most difficult terrains, and Baringo offers the perfect challenge with its countless hills and valleys that test their tenacity.”
Arap Changwony challenged the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to turn its attention to Baringo, calling it a hidden gem in Magical Kenya that remains largely unexplored and under-marketed on the global stage. He urged tourism stakeholders to seize the moment, noting that the motorsport event had revealed the untapped economic potential of the region.
“We have welcomed guests from Nairobi and around the world at Rhino Charge, what more proof do we need?” he asked.
Sentiments reiterated by William Kimosop, the Chief County Warden of Baringo County, who also doubles as the Vice Chair of Adventure Tourism Kenya.
“It was a moment to behold, a canvas of peace painted across a landscape once scarred by conflict, and a powerful testament to the unifying force and promise of sports tourism, ” he reflected, “ It proves that when people come together, everything is possible.”
He further observed that, “Rhino Charge may be one of the world’s toughest motorsport events, but for us in Baringo, it is helping us engage with an even tougher challenge: insecurity.”
He stressed the importance of stability, adding, “Peace is the vital ingredient for any initiative and economic development.”
In May, ahead of the motorsport event that drew over 3,500 participants, including competitors, spectators, support crews, and officials, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen convened a high-level security meeting in Baringo North under the Jukwaa la Usalama platform.
The meeting, held in response to the killing of four people along the Marigat-Loruk road, was hailed as a key boost to the Operation Maliza Uhalifu intervention.
Murkomen took a firm stand against those who fund, fuel, and sustain the unrelenting cycle of banditry.
In his remarks, he pointed to entrenched challenges undermining national security efforts: the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, the commercialisation of banditry through ready markets for stolen livestock, and persistent political interference and incitement.
The successful hosting of Rhino Charge, where motorsport enthusiasts camped for over five nights on community land, was credited to the collaboration between security forces and local communities. Their efforts enabled visitors to enjoy the natural wonders of Baringo safely.
“Baringo is a county of great diversity, we have hills, valleys, lakes, biodiversity, and rare wildlife like the oxbow crocodile, which is white, and the Rothschild giraffe. Unlike what people believe, this is going to be one of the most peaceful counties in Kenya,” added Governor Cheboi.
“One of the main principles of the rhino charge, which makes it a very unique event compared to many other events, is that we try to combine three key elements: sport, fun and a cause. You can feel the very positive ambience all around,” added Lambrechts.
With its breathtaking scenery, rich biodiversity, and vibrant Ilchamus and Tugen cultures, Baringo once again captivated visitors, offering more than just adrenaline.
From hiking trails and birdwatching to bubbling hot springs, the region proved that peace can unlock more than roads; it can unlock opportunity and economic development.
