In a showcase of elite marksmanship, the Kenya Defence Forces Rifle Association (DEFRA) was crowned the overall champion of the prestigious Highland Minerals Trophy 2025 shooting competition. The event, held at the KDF Range Laikipia from December 3-6, brought together the nation’s top sharpshooters in a gruelling test of precision under pressure.
The tournament featured intense rivalry among elite units, including the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the National Police Service (NPS)—with representation from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Administration Police Service (APS)—and the Kenya Regiment Rifle Club (KRRC). Over four days, competitors engaged in fullbore shooting, a discipline demanding extreme accuracy at distances ranging from 300 to a challenging 900 metres.
DEFRA’s path to victory was paved by standout individual performances, none more remarkable than that of Staff Sergeant Brenda Ajiambo. The KDF officer emerged as the tournament’s undisputed top performer, dominating the overall standings with an exceptional score of 544.20 out of a possible 600 points across varied long-range distances. Her consistent excellence under competitive fire was a cornerstone of her team’s success.
“Staff Sergeant Brenda Ajiambo topped the overall standings… leading her team to glory,” confirmed a statement from the Ministry of Defence.
While DEFRA secured the team title, individual category wins were fiercely contested across services. The National Police Service demonstrated its depth, with IP Clifford Kiptarus mastering the Super X 1 category (536.37 points) and colleagues Christopher Mulongo and Ssgt Fredrick Mwema claiming the X1 and O1 categories, respectively.
NIS sharpshooter Moses Wachira also made his mark by securing the Super X 2 category with 533.22 points.
DEFRA answered with strong counterpoints. Sergeant Nicholas Lengorien won the X2 category, while Staff Sergeant Peter Kosgei topped the O2 category. Further cementing the military’s strong showing, Sergeant Antony Mbaluka of DEFRA and NPS’s Susanne Njoroge triumphed in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 categories, respectively.
Officials hailed the event as a resounding success. “The Highland Minerals Trophy did not disappoint,” one noted, praising the exceptionally high skill level displayed across all categories.
This latest triumph adds to a banner year for Kenyan military shooting. It follows the celebrated performance of the KDF Pistol Team at the IPSC Handgun World Shoot in South Africa earlier this year, where Kenyan shooters, including ten from KDF, earned international acclaim for their accuracy and composure, signaling Kenya’s growing stature in global shooting sports.
The Highland Minerals Trophy 2025 has not only crowned a champion but has also highlighted the extraordinary calibre of precision shooting talent within Kenya’s disciplined services, setting a high bar for future competitions.
