Sheghu, Ayuko rev engines for Safari showdown and continental charge

The female rally duo of Pauline Sheghu and Linet Ayuko are revving up for a defining moment at the WRC Safari Rally set for March 12-15 in Naivasha.

The two are determined to use the punishing rally as a springboard to greater glory on both the local and continental scene.

‎With the dust in Naivasha set to rise once again, the pair have mapped out an ambitious and calculated programme that positions the Safari as the launchpad for a full assault on the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) and the African Rally Championship (ARC).

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‎“We normally enter one or two competitions during the Safari Rally, but this year, we are looking at entering all three competitions,” Ayuko revealed. ‎“We will do the Safari Rally, the KNRC and the ARC.”

‎For Sheghu, 2026 marks new territory. ‎“We have done the ARC but not the full circuit. This year we will push through all legs in Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania,” she said.

The duo believe that if they can tame the toughest rally on the calendar, the rest of the season will fall into place. “WRC is the hardest, so we start from there. The ARC is to get more experience, compete with other drivers in the regions and grow so that we can represent Kenya,” she added.

‎Their objective for the continental show is to gain experience and win a leg.

‎“Our target is to finish the ARC and win a championship in between, depending on the category we enter,” Sheghu noted.

‎“We want to do all the ARC and KNRC circuits just like the big boys. It’s a challenge for us to keep on improving and growing to the next stage.”

‎For this year’s Safari, the duo will strap into a new beast, a Subaru GBV. ‎“This year, we will use the Subaru GBV. We got it from a friend in Uganda, so we will be going out to test the car in Uganda,” Ayuko said.

‎Sheghu was quick to underline the growth in performance. ‎“This new car is three times faster than the previous ones we have had."

‎“For us, we are looking to grow. We have been driving the Subaru N10, then we graduated to the Subaru N12, and now we are getting the fastest of all to be able to compete in all three categories.”

Meanwhile, the duo has secured substantial sponsorship from various departments within the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, alongside other corporate partners.

‎The sponsorship package includes: KenGen (Sh500,000), Kenya Power (Sh1 million), GDC – Geothermal Development Company (Sh250,000), National Oil (Sh3 million), Kenya Pipeline (Sh500,000) and REREC – Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (Sh1 million).

‎Additional backing has come from Kevian Group (Sh1 million), Farmers Choice (Sh100,000) and Women in PR (Sh1 million).

‎Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi lauded the duo for flying the country’s flag high. ‎“I wish to congratulate our two heroines for their exemplary performances so far at the Safari Rally."

‎“The two have reinforced the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum as a hub for motorsport prowess," Wandayi said. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to their campaign.

‎“I assure the duo of the ministry's unequivocal commitment to seeing them compete and flying our flag high at the WRC Safari Rally."

‎“I wish to announce that during this championship, the duo will ride under the banner ‘Queens of the Dust," he added. Ayuko has thrown the door open for further corporate support as they eye a full ARC campaign.

‎“We are not locking out more sponsors. In fact, after the Safari Rally, we are hoping to have more sponsors come in and help us in our preparations.”