Gun owners are set to have a blast this Easter as the African Championship of the International Defensive Pistol Association gets underway in Kiambu County.
The event is set to take place at the National Gun Owners Association shooting range in Kirigiti.
The championships kicked off at high note on April 4, 2023, with the Chief & Safety Officer’s shooting.
Wednesday, April 5 and Thursday April 6, will involve the Safety Officer’s Shooting while Friday has been set as the rest day and set up for Shabaha Hustler village et al Sponsored by the Ministry Of Youth Affairs, The Arts & Sports.
The event will climax on Saturday and Sunday (April 8 and 9) with all other shooters participating.
Down the evergreen slopes of Kirigiti where a murram road leads to an abandoned quarry enclosed with an electric wire, the range opens up to what seems like an army base and Martin Chengo the chairman of the Kenya Defensive Pistol Federation demystifies the growing sport.
Martin Chengo the chairman of the Kenya Defensive Pistol Federation at the Kirigiti shooting range.
“We are excited that this Easter weekend our dream of hosting the African Championships is becoming a reality. We started by bidding to host the championship and we were given the honour and thanks to the government for coming out to fund this great course,” says Chengo.
Chengo further reveals that the shooting sport has come of age in the country and soon they will pitch to host the World Championship since Kenya is now the second biggest home to sports shooters.
“We have been travelling internationally participating in the sport for the last 6 years and clearly Kenya is a bit late in embracing the sport but with the support we are receiving from the government, it can only get better,” opines Chengo.
Chengo further invites all licensed gun holders this weekend to participate and also come onboard for the training, revealing that the range will be open to the public soon.
“If you can’t use your gun effectively it becomes a danger to you and that’s why we hold training quite often hence none of our members has been found mishandling their weapons. We therefore need licensed gun holders to come on board,” he says.
