Kenyan rally driver Pauline Sheghu has vowed not to give up on her dream of reaching the podium at the Safari Rally despite a heartbreaking exit from this year’s edition in Naivasha.
Sheghu’s campaign at the World Rally Championship round was cut short after her car was attacked by rowdy spectators, forcing her to retire prematurely.
Navigated by Linet Ayuko, her Subaru Impreza suffered a shattered windscreen after stones were allegedly thrown at the vehicle—an incident that underscored lingering safety concerns in sections of local rallying. “It is very painful and unfortunate… what was supposed to be a beautiful rally for us has ended in tears,” Sheghu said.
Despite the setback, the seasoned driver has quickly shifted her focus to the African Rally Championship (ARC), where she is now targeting a podium finish. Her renewed motivation comes on the back of continental recognition at the AWISI Women of Impact in Sports Awards, where she was named among
Africa’s top 20 impactful women in sport. “I am so delighted and honoured to be recognised on the continent. Winning two awards in a month is no mean feat, especially after having a heartbreaking Safari Rally,” she noted.
The award, she said, offers both validation and inspiration as she looks to bounce back from her WRC disappointment. Having featured consistently in the Safari Rally since 2021, Sheghu is now recalibrating her ambitions—shifting from participation on the global stage to performance at the continental level.
The ARC, an FIA-sanctioned series held across multiple African countries, presents her with a competitive yet realistic pathway to challenge for podium finishes against some of the continent’s best crews.
With lessons learned from Naivasha and momentum from her recent accolade, Sheghu is now focused on consistency, clean stages, and delivering strong results as she continues to fly Kenya’s flag on Africa’s rally circuits.
