By Rading Biko
The conservation efforts of the Rhino Ark have seen
Kenyans fund raise and get involved in tree planting campaigns among other
conservation efforts. The fence has kept wild animals out of their farms and
there is now harmony with the habitat. To date, Rhino Ark has built over 650 km
of electric fences and through the fencing programs, over 80,000 families are
being protected from the dangers of human-wildlife conflicts.
Team Bush Babes Pose with their
Coup Des Dames trophies during the 2022 Rhino Charge Edition in Kajiado County.
The Team was sponsored by KBL through the White Cap beer brand.
This year’s edition of the Rhino Charge – an annual off-road
4×4 competition held on Saturday in support of conservation activities has
raised Sh150 million, Sh10 million more than last year.
The Rhino Charge competition, which supports the activities
of the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust, was held in Mosiro, Kajiado County. A
total of 64 teams participated in the competition that attracted sponsorships
from numerous organizations and individuals.
Among them was Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) through the
White Cap beer brand which was the event’s Official Responsible Drinking
Partner.
Speaking during the event, White Cap Brand Manager Abel
Ratemo said that the sponsorship was part of KBL’s long-term goal to leverage
the motorsport space to advocate for responsible drinking culture through
motorsport.
“We are delighted to have participated in this year’s event
which has no doubt lived up to its expectations. White Cap is a brand that has
a strong association with conservation and for that reason, we are happy to
have contributed to these efforts by sponsoring this event. KBL is also a responsible
company and we take every opportunity we get to remind our consumers of the
importance of responsible drinking. Motorsport is a growing sport in Kenya that
continues to attract many people, which gives us an opportunity to spread out
our messages about responsible drinking. This year’s edition has been
interesting, that has lived up to its hype and we believe that we have spoken
to our audience,” said Ratemo.
Team Bush Babes pose with their Coup Des Dames trophies
during the 2022 Rhino Charge in Kajiado County.
As part of its involvement in this year’s edition, White Cap
also sponsored Bush Babes – an all-women team that took part in the
competition.
According to Ratemo, the sponsorship for the Bush Babes was
part of the brand’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity. “We are delighted
to have sponsored the Bush Babes as part of our efforts to support diversity
and inclusivity, and especially in women in sports that are male-dominated such
as motorsport.”
The intrepid all-women’s team, the BushBabes, have been
passionate chargers for more than 11 years now. The team won this year’s
prestigious Coup Des Dames award, making it the eighth time that they have won
the title.
They also managed a podium finish in the Unmodified Class
during this year’s event after successfully completing12 of the 13 set
checkpoints.
Since its conception, the Rhino Charge event has raised over
Sh1.7 billion towards the conservation of Mt Kenya, Aberdares, and Mt Eburu
forests.
Speaking during the event, Rhino Ark CEO Christian
Lambrechts, said;
“The conservation efforts of the Rhino Ark have seen Kenyans
fundraise and get involved in tree planting campaigns among other conservation
efforts. The fence has kept wild animals out of their farms and there is now
harmony with the habitat. To date, Rhino Ark has built over 650 km of electric
fences and through the fencing programs, over 80,000 families are being
protected from the dangers of human-wildlife conflicts.”
Rhino Ark’s electric fences protect critical mountain forests
that are the ‘water towers’ of Kenya. These mountain forests are vital
ecosystems that support the country’s economic development and the well-being
of most Kenyans.
