eSports; This is not a child's play

According to Fortune Business Insights, the eSports industry is worth $1.22 billion as of 2021. Out of all that, Kenya has its fair share of $55 million and is ranked the eighth biggest gaming hub on the continent. E-sports is defined as the competitive playing of video games. It is worthwhile to note that there is a major difference between gaming and playing video games in Kenya. 

Many of the people involved in gaming, particularly football, are associated with gambling, which is dominated by different betting companies such as Sport Pesa, Betika, and Betin, among others. It is no secret that several corporate companies benefit immensely from investing in the eSports industry. These include Microsoft, Intel, and Red Bull, just to name a few. Furthermore, many celebrities and venture capital firms have hopped on the eSports bandwagon, ready to give their hard-earned cash to promising teams. There are countless employment opportunities in this fast-emerging industry. Some of them include a director of esports sales, an esports software development engineer, an esports marketing communications specialist, an esports content producer, an esports gaming product manager, an esports reporter, and so forth. 

Being an industry that is not yet well established on the continent, there are major stereotypes that plague the gaming industry. These include the fact that it is a major distraction from studies among youth, that gaming parlors harbor criminals such as drug dealers and thieves, and that playing video games is a way to pass time and cannot be leveraged as a source of income. Indeed, they are hindrances to upcoming pro-gamers, one of whom is Sylvia Gathoni, popularly known as "Queen Arrow." 

Sylvia Gathoni, a Kenyan pro-gamer

Initially, she had a passion for video games even as a three-year-old, which was sparked by her brother and cousin, who were players at the time. In her first year of university, she attended her first esports tournament at the East African Gaming Convention in 2017 and emerged as the third runner-up. Thereafter, she worked her fingers to the bone in order to perfect her skills in major e-sporting games such as Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and Tekken. In June 2018, she was signed by Xit Woundz, a US-based e-sports company, becoming the first East African woman to achieve such a great feat. According to her, a great motivating factor is that she is "hungry to succeed and willing to overcome all the obstacles that she faces, which are mostly her gender and race." One of her main aspirations is to merge her passion for e-sports with her legal career. In fact, her thesis was based on microtransactions in video games. 

Another acclaimed pro gamer, who goes by the name "The Beast," is making huge leaps in the industry. Brian started playing video games when he was around six years old. To the surprise of many, this is his one and only source of income. Currently, he works with Safaricom as well as Pro-Series Gaming, where he sits in the office of the Junior Esports League Sports Operator. 

Brian "The Beast", a pro-gamer

Here, he manages and runs eSports tournaments, whether they are held online or offline. In the spirit of giving back to the community, he set up a video gaming den in his hometown of Kibera. Many of the youth who are interested in eSports have had the opportunity to work hand in hand with Brian, whom they consider their mentor. This helps them avoid engaging in crime and substance abuse, and it even earns them an income. The prominent Esports companies established in the country include Pro-Series Gaming, Rubik’s Digital, Alpha Clan Esports, Esports Kenya Federation, and Tekken 254. Pro-Series Gaming was founded by Dennis Waita, whose passion for business and IT was channeled into video gaming. His main goal was to create awareness about the industry so as to encourage esports lovers to come together to make a difference, not only in video games but also in the economy. This renowned company hosts a variety of competitions that are either played online or offline and are used to assess the various skills and abilities of the players. 

At the moment, they have a league called the African e-sports championships where players stand a chance to win cash prizes. On the other hand, Rubik’s Digital invites those who are interested in becoming a part of the African e-sport community to participate in their games and even co-create them. A unique feature of this company is that they are focused on incorporating African culture into video games, thus preserving our traditional heritage. They recreate African traditional games, which they make accessible through their app called "Play On." In fact, they hold tournaments and competitions via this same app. 

There is a cry from the eSports community for the Kenyan government to make reforms that will enhance the growth of the industry so that it can be legitimized as a rewarding career. These include a reduction of tariffs on games and gaming equipment as provided for in the Entertainment Tax Act to make them more accessible to the common mwananchi and an increase in funding from the government in order for the industry to develop; hence, the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage should acknowledge the presence and impact of Esports in Kenya. In conclusion, eSports has taken the world, and also our country, by storm. Day by day, it grows in leaps and bounds, and the world has seen nothing yet. Having participated in the Commonwealth Esports Championships, Kenyan pro-gamers are taking eSports in this country to the next level. Therefore, you better watch this space!

Wendy Chepchumba Koskei is a first-year student at the University of Nairobi Faculty of Law