Top shooter fires salvo at Rifle Club over racism

By Cate Mukei   

Nairobi, Kenya: A sharpshooter has accused the Kenya Regiment Rifle Club (KRRC) of racism.

Anthony Wahome claims the shooting club favours members of the Asian community. But a member of the club’s committee has denied the allegations and accused the top shooter of hitting back after he was suspended.

Wahome is the Kenya Open 2010 Championship and 2012 top shot winner.

His club membership was revoked last year over what the club’s officials termed as misconduct.

He had been a member for more than 10 years and defended himself saying his suspension came after he took the committee to court for failing to hold an AGM from 2007 to 2012.

“The case is still in court. That club is run by people who feel threatened by anyone that challenges the status quo,” he said.

“These people behave like a colony. There are only a few black Kenyans in the committee, and they have been silenced totally. I do not understand why they never resign and let other people take over,” Wahome said.

He further accused the committee of cancelling pistol competition for a year so he could not take part.

In his response to Wahome’s allegations, the club’s treasurer Riaz Abdulgani said: “Saying that the club is only open to members of a certain community is a total lie. The club is always open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Wahome is just spreading rumours because he was suspended for misconduct.”

He asked The Nairobian to email further queries. He had not responded to our questions by the time of going to press.

When we later called back, Abdulgani told us that the email had been forwarded to the club’s committee and would be replied to after a meeting to be held on June 17.

Wahome had claimed that the schedule for the club decided by the committee was discriminatory.

“Why is it that an indoor range facility that used to be open six days a week, morning to night, is now open for only one day (Saturdays) and for three hours? Why is it that membership to the club does not reflect the new Constitution?” he questioned.

 The shooting range, based at the clubhouse for the Sailing Club at Nairobi Dam in Langata, is the most active sportive shooting club in Kenya.

It contains a 10 mertes (first floor) ISSF range for air guns and a 25 mertes (ground floor) ISSF and IDPA shooting range for small bore handgun, big bore handgun, and small bore rifle.