This archive report was first published on 23 August 2019.
Published on August 23, 2019, the IDPA pistol shoot event is set to take place at the Bamburi Rifle Club in Mombasa next weekend.
According to International Defensive Pistol Association vice chairman Alphie Warshaw, sports shooting was not a popular sport in Mombasa until about six years ago when a few people took up shooting as a sport.
Warshaw noted that Bamburi Rifle Club has been operating at the Bamburi Cement quarry for the last 48 years, with membership dwindling at some point due to revoked firearm licenses.
However, the sport is growing thanks to experienced trainers like Sammy Onyango and Robert Nyamongo, who have been conducting monthly trainings in Mombasa.
Women are yet to cut a niche for themselves in shooting sports, but Leila Awale, a certified Range Officer and the only civilian lady shooter in Mombasa, is taking part in the competition as a novice.
Awale has been shooting for the last seven years and has had her share of challenges in the sport, but kept going.
She credits her trainer, the late Bruce Bokle, for introducing tactical shooting in Mombasa and winning the Chairman’s Cup in 2017 in the ladies category.
Anthony Wahome, the National Gun Owners Association (Ngao-k) chairman, said a lot of high-profile guests are expected at the competition and that they are looking at upgrading the Bamburi Rifle Club to accommodate over 8 COF’s.
Several sponsors, including Crown Paints Kenya PLC, Subaru Kenya, and Seagas Ltd Kenya, have come on board to support the event.
The competition will include tests on speed and accuracy, drills trigger, speed drills, combat draws, evasive draws, transitions, barricades, concealment, and cover, among others.
