Safari Rally driver Pauline Sheghu advocates for greater opportunities for women in motorsport and leadership.
The Safari Rally driver says her journey through broadcasting and motorsport shows why women and girls should pursue their ambitions despite stereotypes.
Safari Rally driver Pauline Sheghu has urged women and girls to pursue their ambitions confidently and resist intimidation, calling for greater participation in sport, leadership and careers traditionally dominated by men.
Drawing on more than 15 years in motorsport, Sheghu said determination, resilience and hard work had helped her establish herself in competitive racing. She wants that experience to encourage other women to claim opportunities rather than allow stereotypes to define their choices.
Her message extends beyond the rally circuit. Having worked in broadcasting and public communication before establishing herself in rallying, Sheghu said women should be able to demonstrate their abilities across different professions without being discouraged by unequal opportunities.
Challenging barriers through motorsport
Sheghu identified intimidation, persistent stereotypes and unequal access to opportunities as obstacles to women’s participation in leadership and male-dominated fields. Such barriers, she said, can deter girls before they have a chance to explore their potential.
She believes sport offers a practical way to challenge those attitudes. Performance, discipline and teamwork give young women an opportunity to show what they can do while developing skills that are useful beyond competition.
As a member of the all-women rally crew Queens of the Dust, Sheghu has competed in the World Rally Championship Safari Rally and the Kenya National Rally Championship. The crew recorded podium finishes in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Sheghu said the team also advocates for women’s involvement in sport and leadership. Its participation has helped challenge perceptions about women in racing and broaden discussion about opportunities for female drivers, navigators, mechanics and motorsport leaders.
Recognition strengthens empowerment work
In September 2026, the International Women Parliament in Dhaka, Bangladesh, honoured Sheghu as an Iconic Woman and Most Outstanding Sports Personality. The recognition followed her naming as Africa Sports Personality of the Year at the Thamani Africa Awards.
Sheghu said the Dhaka honour had strengthened her commitment to using sport to support empowerment, inclusion, mentorship and positive social change.
She dedicated the recognition to women who overcome obstacles and create opportunities for others, as well as girls across Africa and beyond who hope to succeed in sport, leadership and other careers. She said she wanted the award to encourage them to trust their abilities and remain determined.
Her national honours include the Head of State Commendation and the Order of the Grand Warrior. In 2025, she was also conferred with National Hero status during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui for her contribution to motorsport as part of the all-women crew competing in the WRC Safari Rally.
Creating opportunities for the next generation
Before becoming known in rallying, Sheghu built a broadcasting career that made her familiar to Kenyan audiences through her fluent Swahili and on-air delivery. She later moved into public communication and leadership.
She regards the lessons from racing as relevant to those roles and to everyday life. In her view, achievement involves more than completing a race: it requires courage, perseverance, discipline, cooperation and the ability to recover from setbacks.
Her focus now includes helping other women enter the sport. She has mentored young female drivers, mechanics and navigators while advocating for wider participation in motorsport.
For Sheghu, the significance of her achievements lies not only in personal recognition but also in the opportunities they can help create for others. She said empowering women and girls to look beyond limitations remains central to that work.
