Reporting by Jameson Mutua
Kenya once again took the spotlight on the continental stage, emerging victorious at the African Best Young Driver (ABYD) Finals 2025, held at the WRC Service Park in Naivasha.
The competition brought together national finalists from Kenya, South Africa, and Botswana, testing their driving skills and safety awareness. After an action-packed day of challenges, Kenya’s Victor Maina Kabura clinched the top spot, earning the host nation a proud victory.
A Showcase of Precision and Responsibility
The finals featured six unique driving tests designed to assess not only technical ability but also composure, judgment, and adherence to safety. Contestants tackled real-world driving scenarios, including emergency tire changes, braking avoidance, bowl slalom, damage reduction parcours, off-road handling, and roll car stability.
“The African Best Young Driver competition is about shaping responsible drivers, not chasing speed,” said Daniel Kiprono, Head of the AA Kenya Driving School. “It’s a platform that equips youth with both confidence and discipline behind the wheel.”
Kenya Leads the Continent in Safe Mobility
AA Kenya CEO Francis Theuri commended the participants for their outstanding performance and reaffirmed Kenya’s growing leadership in promoting road safety.
“Hosting the ABYD Finals in Naivasha is a milestone for Kenya. It demonstrates our influence in nurturing a new generation of road users who combine skill with responsibility,” he said.
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Final Standings – African Best Young Driver Finals 2025
1st Place: Victor Maina Kabura (Kenya)
2nd Place: Wany Tebogo Wani (Botswana)
3rd Place: Chris Waweru Kungu (Kenya)
4th Place: Musawahosi Khoza (South Africa)
5th Place: Matlala Praise Tumiso (South Africa)
6th Place: Tapiwa Lydia Geofrey (Botswana)
Empowering Africa’s Youth Through Road Safety
The ABYD initiative, spearheaded by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and implemented in Kenya by AA Kenya, capped off a successful national campaign that engaged more than 2,380 young drivers in regional selections across Eldoret, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Nairobi.
The continental finals were held alongside the WRC Safari Rally Kenya, with support from the Kenya Police, who promoted key road safety messages urging motorists not to overlap and to keep left unless overtaking.
The Naivasha finals celebrated both competitive excellence and the spirit of responsible driving. Kenya’s triumph on home soil marks a defining moment for the country’s motoring youth one that signals a future driven by skill, discipline, and safety across Africa’s roads.
This is just awesome, seeing Kenyan drivers at the fore-front, being both spectacular at their skills behind the wheel and also promoting road safety in the nation.