All attention will be on the sleek Subaru N10, skillfully handled by a formidable all-female Kenyan duo in the upcoming thrilling WRC Safari Rally of 2023.
Pauline Sheghu, a media queen, takes the wheel alongside her navigator, Linet Ayuko, as they navigate the challenging terrains and dense jungles of Nakuru County from June 22-26.
Competing against formidable opponents, their eyes are firmly set on claiming the top spot on the winners’ podium.
Despite the escalating hype and adrenaline that surround such globally renowned competitions, Pauline remains undeterred and unshaken as D-day approaches. Her journey into motorsports began in 2006 when a remarkable opportunity presented itself at her workplace.
The late motorsports icon, Ben Muchemi “Baba Shiro,” conceived the brilliant idea that propelled her into the national spotlight.
Pauline shares, “I started rallying in 2006 while working for the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). Ben Muchemi and John Ngunjiri, both influential figures in rallying, inspired me to join the race. They initiated an event called the Inter-Media Rally competition, which brought together all media houses. One of the conditions was for each team to include at least one female participant.”
Initially hesitant to participate in the opening phase of the monthly competition, Pauline was eventually compelled to join subsequent rounds as the organizers insisted on having a female driver in each car.
Her first experience behind the wheel of a rally car was exhilarating, offering a stark contrast to driving a regular vehicle. Filled with adrenaline, Pauline realized that rallying was something she would love to pursue further. This marked a turning point in her life.
Unbeknownst to her, a different path began to unfold, plunging her deeper into the world of rallying. The Kenya Motorsports Federation decided to attend the third phase of the competition to identify two drivers for the Kenya National Rally Championships. It was a make-or-break moment, as no special treatment was accorded to women.
Pauline reflects, “It was no longer about representing my media house; it became about me as an individual competing in the Kenya Rally Championships. Out of the 67 participants, I emerged in the first place, catching the attention of KNRC bosses who selected me to participate in the national event.”
With the upcoming championships on the horizon, Pauline is determined to make her mark. Armed with her trusty Subaru, a powerful machine she has relied on throughout her rallying career, she aims to surpass the mere completion of the race.
With an all-women crew under the banner of Team Sheghu, she looks forward to taking her rallying endeavours to the next level, guided by the Talanta Hela umbrella.
Pauline’s decision to embrace motorsport was partly influenced by a peculiar encounter with carjackers. Their pursuit along Uhuru Highway led her to rely on her wits and knowledge acquired from her late father and brother, who had backgrounds in security matters.
Drawing upon their advice to never stop when faced with such situations, she deftly manoeuvred through the incident, reinforcing her determination to delve further into rallying.
Her next vehicle, a Peugeot 306, became a testament to her resolve. In 2011, she etched her name in the annals of rallying history by becoming the first female driver to complete the entire course of a Kenya National Rally Championship competition on her debut.
Pauline acknowledges the late Orie Rogo Manduli, a motorsport pioneer who participated in the East African Safari Rally in 1974, as her source of inspiration. Manduli’s encouragement and desire for Pauline to finish the race and make Kenyan women proud motivated her to persevere.
For Pauline, rallying extends beyond mere triumphs and trophies. “It’s not about winning or securing top positions. No, it’s about finishing safely while recording a respectable time. In rallying, you only quit when you can’t get the car to roar anymore,” she asserts.
A holder of a master’s degree and the second-born in a family of nine, Pauline attributes her rapid ascent to her parents’ unwavering love and support. Having spent her formative years in both Nairobi and Kisumu due to her father’s job transfers as a government officer, she credits their encouragement for propelling her to excel and shatter stereotypes in rallying.
With a burning desire to challenge misconceptions and change the perception of motorsport as a male-dominated domain, Pauline has been instrumental in promoting women’s participation.
Organizations like Women in Motorsport, headed by Hellen Shiri, have emerged to encourage more women to venture into the sport.
Promising talents such as Tinashe Gatimu, a 16-year-old driver who competes alongside her mother, Carol, exemplify the growing presence of gifted female drivers.
Pauline anticipates a transformative shift in the local sports landscape and commends Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba for his ability to drive change.
She extends her gratitude to God, her family, Hon. Ababu Namwamba, the Kenyan government, KBC Managing Director Samuel Maina, and the Kenya Motorsports Federation for their support in her participation in the upcoming WRC Safari Rally alongside her navigator, Linet Ayuko.
