NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan photographer Mwangi Kirubi has won Gold in the Motor Sports category at the World Sports Photography Awards 2026, marking a major international milestone for Kenyan sports photography and the Safari Rally Kenya.
Kirubi announced the achievement on Friday, describing the award as a proud moment for himself, Kenya, and the globally renowned Safari Rally, which returned to the World Rally Championship (WRC) circuit in 2021 after nearly two decades.
“Gold in the Motor Sports Category at the World Sports Photography Awards 2026. A proud moment for me, my country, Kenya and the Safari Rally,” Kirubi said.
Since the Safari Rally’s reinstatement into the WRC calendar, Kirubi has been among a small group of Kenyan photographers accredited to cover the prestigious motorsport event.
The 2025 Safari Rally marked his fifth consecutive year documenting the rally, a consistency he credits with refining his craft and deepening his understanding of rally photography.
The award-winning image was captured during the Shakedown stage at the iconic Sleeping Warrior section of the rally.
Unlike competitive rally stages that are driven once, Shakedown allows drivers to make multiple runs, offering photographers an opportunity to experiment with angles, timing, and camera settings.
Kirubi explained that the winning shot was the result of repositioning rather than changing camera settings. “I almost always shoot in AV mode, which didn’t change. What changed was my shooting position—from a jump to this spot where I captured my favourite images from the rally and this winning shot,” he said.
The photograph features Grégoire Munster and co-driver Louis Louka in their Ford Puma Rally1, dramatically cutting through a cloud of dust locally known as fesh fesh.
The fine, powdery soil—common in the Great Rift Valley—creates a unique visual effect, appearing fluid-like in motion despite being extremely dry.
“The dust they’re kicking up is called fesh fesh. It’s almost watery in nature yet very dry, hence the splashy look it produces in photos,” Kirubi noted.
The image was captured using a Canon R5C paired with an RF 100–500mm f/4.5–7.1 L IS USM lens, shot at 1/3200 seconds, f/5.6, ISO 400, and 324mm—settings tailored to freeze high-speed action while preserving texture and depth.
Kirubi thanked the World Sports Photography Awards for the recognition, as well as Canon’s global network—including Canon EMEA, Canon UK & Ireland, Canon USA, and Canon Central and North Africa—for supporting photography talent worldwide.
The award places Kirubi among the world’s elite sports photographers and reinforces Kenya’s growing reputation not just as a motorsport destination, but also as a hub of visual storytelling excellence.
The Safari Rally, celebrated for its punishing terrain and dramatic landscapes, continues to offer Kenyan creatives a global stage to showcase local skill through an international lens.
As Kenyan sports continue to attract global attention, Kirubi’s achievement underscores the importance of investing in local talent behind the camera—ensuring that Kenya’s stories are told authentically, powerfully, and competitively on the world stage.