Excitement is building as the 2025 edition of the iconic Rhino Charge gears up to take place tomorrow, Saturday, at Saimo Soi in Baringo North. Now in its 36th year, the off-road motorsport challenge has drawn 64 participating vehicles, including the debut of the first electric vehicle entry—Car No. 29, the EV Explorers, sponsored by M-PESA.
The introduction of an electric vehicle into the Rhino Charge marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s journey towards sustainable motorsport. Team leader Richard Kiplagat shared his enthusiasm:
“We have been part of this event for 23 years, but this is the first time we are taking on the challenge with an electric vehicle. It’s a historic moment—not just for us, but for environmental conservation in Kenya. Climate change is real, and this move shows our commitment to a more sustainable approach. We are immensely grateful to Safaricom and M-PESA for their support in making this a reality.”
Among the top contenders is Adil Khawaja of Car No. 44 (AK 44), last year’s top fundraiser. Backed by Safaricom, the team raised an impressive KES 175 million in 2024. Collectively, the 2024 Rhino Charge raised a record-breaking KES 325.8 million to support Rhino Ark’s conservation efforts.
Other notable entries in this year’s event include five-time champions Car No. 5 led by Graham McKittrick, 2023 winners Car No. 4 led by Mark Glen, Car No. 43 under Peter Kinyua, as well as Moto Moto, Fat Rhinos, Smiling Shenzis, BATUK, Team Huzi, and Zambarau Heels on the Wheel.
Patrick Garner, Team Lead for Car No. 49, also shared his team’s enthusiasm:
“We’ve been charging for over 20 years, and it’s something my family and I are deeply passionate about. Beyond the thrill, this event plays a crucial role in environmental conservation. The car is ready, and we’re excited to have fun while contributing to a cause we care about.”
The Rhino Charge is more than just a motorsport event—it’s a fundraiser organized to support the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust, a conservation organization committed to protecting mountain forest ecosystems, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of surrounding communities.
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This year’s event has received sponsorships amounting to KES 25.8 million through Car No. 44 and Car No. 29, along with network connectivity support from Safaricom PLC.
Safaricom has been a long-time partner of the Rhino Charge, helping raise more than KES 2.4 billion over the years. These funds have gone into major environmental projects including the construction of over 650km of electric fencing to protect Kenya’s water towers—Mt. Kenya, the Aberdares, Mau Eburu, and Kakamega Forest. These fences have secured over 500,000 hectares of forest, protected more than 80,000 families from human-wildlife conflict, and helped restore 90 hectares of degraded forest.
Safaricom’s commitment aligns with its sustainability goals, including becoming a Net Zero carbon-emitting company by 2050.