Over 200 shooters are expected to take part in the third edition of the Euro Africa Tier 4 championship that kicks off today in Mombasa.
The two-day shooting competition, which has attracted about 25 international sharpshooters from the US, Russia, Slovenia, and South Africa, will be held at the Bamburi Rifle Club range in Mombasa.
By last evening, at least 16 foreign nationals had already landed in the country. The remaining nine were in Addis Ababa, en route to Kenya.
Yesterday, safety officials conducted an inspection tour of the Bamburi Rifle Club range ahead of the competition. This is the first time the competition is being held outside Kiambu County.
The first two editions of the competition, sanctioned by the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) headquartered in the US, were held at the Kirigiti Shooting Range in Kiambu under the Ngao-Kenya (National Gun Owners Association of Kenya) auspices.
“For you to hold a sanctioned event, you have to meet the threshold of 200 shooters. So far, we have surpassed that and we have a good turnout from even international shooters,” Abdulhakim Daud, chairman of the Bamburi Rifle Club, said.
He spoke on Wednesday, during a rehearsal ahead of the championship proper. The international shooters were expected to arrive in Kenya on Thursday, the first day of the competition.
Daud said participants include disciplined forces, civilians and foreign shooters.
Kenya Police Captain, Inspector Mohamed Aden, expressed confidence in clinching the top spot.
He said the law enforcement teams, including the DCI, Kenya Prisons, KWS, the Anti-Stock Theft Unit and the Anti-Terror Police Unit, have 120 shooters ready for the event.
“I thank our Kenya Police Service Deputy Inspector General Douglas Kanja, who has supported us to come and participate in this event. I am sure we shall not let him down. We are here to win,” Aden said.
Daud said civilians can participate in the shooting competition but they have to first register with IDPA, have a license and acquire a firearm.
“Once you become a member, you pay either annual fees or the three-year fees then you come here we classify you,” Daud said.
Different classes start from novice (amateur, the lowest cadre) to marksman, sharpshooter, expert, master and then grandmaster. However, in Kenya, there is no grandmaster.
“However, I know in the next few months, we should have a grandmaster. We are also proud to have one of our own from Kenya who will soon be a grandmaster and that is Dan Ndung’u,” Daud said.
Only 9mm calibre handguns are used in the competition.
These include Concealed Carry Pistols (CCP), Stock Service Pistols (SSP), Enhanced Service Pistols (ESP), Speciality Division (SPD) and revolvers.
“Every calibre of handgun has a category," Daud said.
He said the Bamburi Rifle Club range is small and can't host rifle competitions. “We can do submachine guns and pistols only,” Daud said.
Winners will be awarded with trophies, medals, cash vouchers and certificates.
Bamburi Rifle Club was founded in 1971 and has progressed in sport shooting for the last 15 years.
