By Timothy Albrite
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who see a car as little more than a tool for getting from point A to B, and those who see it as a mechanical extension of their very soul. The latter are the ones who truly understand the language of the internal combustion engine, or the deep rumble of a V8. For two young men, Munene Gitau and Ephy Kamau, this language is their mother tongue, a dialect they speak with a fluency that would shame most adults.
Samuel Wambugu, father to Ephy Kamau and uncle to Gitau Munene, is a quiet force behind the scenes. As part of TIV East Africa, the recommended WRC rescue team, he has built a professional life on motorsport safety. But for Wambugu, the sport is more than a job; it’s a personal passion he has had since he was old enough to get his own car. It was this love that he saw reflected in the boys from a very young age.
Wambugu points out that their strength and support came from Wilson Munene, Gitau Munene’s father and uncle to Ephy Kamau, who the kids also mention as a mentor who introduced them to the sport and also played a big role in who they are today.
“You could see their keen interest in motor repairs,” he says, “from changing tires to helping with oil changes.” It was a curiosity he chose to encourage rather than stifle. He nurtured their fascination, exposing them to the intricacies of motor vehicles beyond just driving. This is how he got them into the sport, spotting their natural talent and their cautiousness on the road, and deciding it was something worth pursuing.
Their vehicle of choice is the legendary Land Rover Defender, fitted with all terrain Ultraforce tyres, a car Sam himself holds in high regard. “The vehicle handles the terrain very well, both at high speed and even at low speed,” he says, with the kind of affection only a true off-roader can have for his machine. It’s this shared love for a vehicle that can “crawl” and conquer any obstacle that has become the foundation of their family’s off-roading adventures.
First, let’s talk about Munene Gitau. At 14, Munene is already a veteran of the off-road circuit. He learned to drive at the tender age of six, and at eight, he was competing in his first event, the Jumbo Charge 4×4 Mt. Elgon Challenge. He drives a Land Rover Defender 110, a V8, no less, and speaks of it with the kind of reverence a man reserves for his most prized possession. He’s not just a driver; he’s a student of the game, homeschooling so he can focus on mechanical engineering, and has a dream of opening his own garage. Munene is the kind of kid who makes you feel like you haven’t done enough with your life. He’s already a champion in the beginner’s category and is now competing in the intermediate and expert categories in the 4 X4 Challenges. He’s also not shy about sharing his knowledge, with plans to start a training academy to bring more people, into the sport.
Then we have Ephy Kamau, all of 12 years old and already a champion in his own right. Ephy loved this sport since he was 5 but he joined the sport at 11 and won his very first challenge. When you hear him talk, there’s a quiet confidence that is truly impressive. He speaks of the challenges with a level head, describing the mud and rock-filled paths as “not really that hard if you have determination and skill.” For him, it’s about staying calm and focused. He’s not just driving a car, he’s orchestrating a symphony of machine and will, with a co-driver to help him through the difficult parts. Ephy’s story is a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is a video to spark a passion and a willingness to try something new.
Beyond the passion and the pedigree lies the brutal reality of the events themselves. These aren’t simple drives in the park; they are calculated assaults on nature itself. Competitions like the Jumbo Challenge, held in unforgiving locations like Mount Elgon, Lukenya Hills, and Meru, pit drivers of all ages against one another. The courses are a brutal mix of mud-slicked trenches, jagged rock formations, and steep inclines, each section designed to test the limits of both man and machine.
As Gitau Munene points out, understanding whether the course is “mostly rock, mostly mud, or a mix of both” is a critical first step. For these young drivers, the challenge is not just physical but also mental. Ephy, with a champion’s calm, says it’s not really that hard “if you have determination and skill in driving, and to always clear your mind before starting.” He adds that with a fully equipped car boasting lockers and specialized tires, the stages become a little less daunting.
So what do you say to a kid who wants to join this mud-splattered, high-octane world? The message from both young men is simple and powerful: follow your dreams and never give up. Munene advises getting a parent’s consent and even offers to mentor aspiring drivers through his Instagram page, emphasizing that it’s a safe sport with all the necessary safety gear. The doors, it seems, are open to anyone who has the passion, regardless of gender or age.
In the end, what struck me most was not their skill or their ambition, but their character. They are polite, articulate, and completely in love with what they do. They are the future of Kenyan motorsport, and if they are anything to go by, that future is in very good hands.
