KCB ANNOUNCE 36M BOOST FOR 2012 KNRC

(Remarks by Simon Kariuki, head of Micro Banking, during the KCB Micro Banking Rally Press Briefing held on 31st January at the Heart of Kencom.)

It is my great pleasure to welcome you here at the heart of KCB to witness the official launch of the Kenya National Rally Championship Calendar 2012. This is the ninth year that KCB has partnered with the Kenya Motor Sport Federation and we are indeed very proud of how far we have come in the promotion of the sport of Rallying in Kenya. This year, as in years gone by, we are going to have eight rounds that will be staged across diverse locations across the country. This is in keeping with our desire to take rallying to the grassroots, where ordinary folks can interact with the bank and indeed the rallying fraternity. So this weekend the first leg of the 2012 circuit will kick off in Nyeri County. Nyeri County rallying enthusiasts will have the opportunity to rekindle their love affair with the best rally drivers in Kenya, at Ruringu Stadium in what we expect shall be an exhilarating experience.

As we launch this year’s rallying Circuit we are delighted to also announce the renewal of our sponsorship in support of the KCB KNRC 2012 to the tune of Kshs 36 million. This funding will go towards facilitating the Kenya Motor Sports Federation in hosting the rallies throughout the 2012 season. Since 2003, the first time we sponsored motor rallying; Kenyan motor sport has become synonymous with KCB. We have taken the rally to many parts of this country, entertaining and educating the public in the process while also building the bank’s brand equity. KCB has since been able to successfully reposition its brand in the market receiving immense recognition and visibility even in far flung areas of Kenya where we have had the occasion to promote, our products and services. We are grateful, that this sponsorship platform has created a symbiotic partnership, enabling us to build a relationship with the rallying fraternity, who form a key component of our stakeholders, while at the same time ensuring development of motorsports in Kenya and the region. We therefore look forward to yet another season of success and achievements for both KCB and the Kenya Motor Sports Federation.