By Timothy Albrite
Naivasha, Kenya, will host a historic moment for road safety and youth empowerment when the African Best Young Driver Contest 2025 takes place on 2 November, proudly organized by AA Kenya in collaboration with the FIA.
This will be the first time Africa stages its own version of the celebrated competition, highlighting the continent’s most skilled and safety-conscious young drivers. The contest follows the success of the European Best Young Driver initiative, first launched in Slovenia in 2017 and now embraced across Europe. Africa’s edition is tailored to the continent’s unique roads, cultures, and realities, giving young drivers a platform to shine.
The event aims to break stereotypes that link youth to risky driving and crashes. Instead, it shows that many young drivers are disciplined, responsible, and eager to set a positive example for safer mobility.
Open to drivers aged 18 to 26 with a valid category B license, the contest is about more than speed. Participants will face challenges that test vehicle handling, first aid, traffic rule knowledge, and overall road safety practices, all designed to reflect real-life skills that save lives.
By blending driving ability with safety awareness, the winners will stand out not only as skilled drivers but also as ambassadors for safer roads in their countries.
The first edition will be held in Naivasha, Kenya, home to the Safari rally. Kenya is a regional leader in road safety efforts, with AA Kenya active in education campaigns, safer infrastructure, and community outreach. Bringing together drivers from across Africa will also help strengthen collaboration between countries on shared safety challenges.
The Africa Best Young Driver (A-BYD) Contest in Naivasha will be free to attend at the Wildlife Training Institute, offering spectators a vibrant mix of entertainment and a front-row view of Africa’s most talented young drivers competing for the title.
Africa has the highest rate of road traffic deaths in the world, and young people are most affected. That makes this contest more than just a competition. It’s a call to action. By celebrating smart and safe young drivers, the event hopes to inspire change and show that youth can lead the way in solving Africa’s road safety crisis.
The contest is designed as both a competition and a celebration. Young drivers will connect with peers, share knowledge, and experience the thrill of representing their countries. Audiences, in turn, will get to see a new side of African youth innovative, responsible, and committed to change.
For AA Kenya, hosting the inaugural edition underlines its long-standing mission to promote safer mobility. It also places Kenya firmly on the global motorsport and mobility map while helping shape a new generation of road safety champions.
As the countdown to Naivasha begins, excitement is building across the continent. The long-term goal is for the contest to become a regular African championship, creating a pipeline of young ambassadors who will influence safer driving habits for years to come.