This archive report was first published on 2 September 2021.
September 2, 2021, marked the beginning of the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) championships in Kenya, but not everyone was smiling.
The National Gun Owners Association (NGAO-K) chairman Martin Chengo's hopes of winning a medal at the IDPA championships were dashed after he was disqualified from the ongoing African Championship shooting competition.
Chengo's disqualification was due to a muzzle violation, where his muzzle went beyond the required 180-degree call.
"We are not compromising on safety. When a muzzle violation was called on stage, it earned me a disqualification (DQ) that automatically knocked me out of the championship," Chengo said.
Despite the disqualification, Chengo will continue to serve as a Safety Officer for the event, officiating the contest at the Kirigiti shooting range on Saturday and Sunday.
Match Director Master Sammy Onyango weighed in on the issue, stating that the safety officers have been strict, with three disqualifications in the Expert and marksman categories, and several people given penalties.
Disqualification means the shooter may not continue in any part of the IDPA match, may not reenter in another division, and may not shoot any side matches.
Kenya Police Service's Pricillah Wangui also suffered a DQ fate, citing a simple mistake that broke the 180 rule at COF number 8 (warm ambush).
