Nyanza Complex Rifle Club has established a shooting range in Kisumu to promote shooting as a sport in the Western Kenya region.
The construction of the range at Kisumu Cotton Mill (Kicomi), the first of its kind in the Western region, will be completed in the next two weeks.
Club chairman Peter Okul said the range will bring the sport closer to people and reduce the cost of travelling for firearm holders from the region to Nairobi.
It will be an indoor range with an outdoor range to be established in the Kibos area in the Muhoroni subcounty.
“This is something which has never been there before and many licensed firearm holders were forced to travel to Nairobi for them to shoot,” he said.
Okul said the range will be made to meet the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) standards to enhance training and hosting of sports.
The chairman said they are committed to nurturing young talents in shooting from the region like those in other regions.
“We expect to have a range of not less than 10 bases because we are introducing sports for adults and young people in the region,” Okul said.
He spoke during the meeting which brought together 120 members in Kisumu on Saturday.
The club with 150 registered members, is an organisation made up of legally licensed firearm holders and members of the disciplined forces.
“Those who want to join the club should apply and submit all the required documents from relevant multi-government agencies to become a member,” Okul said.
The holders whose firearms had not been cleaned for about two and three years had their firearms cleaned by experts during the meeting.
“The clinic enabled the cleaning of firearms. During the process we found ammunition stacked in the chamber which could have exposed the holders to risk in case of danger,” Okul said.
The chairman announced that the club will hold meetings periodically to enable the members to have their firearms cleaned.
Okul pledged to work with the government to streamline the use of firearms in the hands of civilians.
He cautioned firearm holders in Nyanza and Western against misuse saying they risk their firearms and licences being cancelled by the Firearm Licensing Board of Kenya.
“We are working closely with the government to ensure any licensed firearm holder who handles their firearm recklessly and/or carelessly or displays them unnecessarily to the public, has their firearms and licenses withdrawn,” Okul said.
The collaboration, he said, will supplement the government's efforts to get illegal firearms into the hands of the wrong people.
To obtain a firearm licence, one must apply to the licensing board.
