Kenya experienced significant progress in esports in 2023, a trend in line with its youthful demographic and standing as Africa’s technology hub. This year, prospects for additional expansion are on the increase, largely due to the development of solid governance structures. The Kenya Federation of Esports, now fully instituted after operating temporarily for years, is now fully operational. The core values of transparency, accountability, integrity, and inclusivity characterize our community, and we now have a full-scale organization representing the authentic voice of Kenyan esports. This raises the legitimacy and trustworthiness of our sport. We aim to incorporate innovation into all federation activities, keeping in line with the Global Esports Federation’s call to arms.
Our main goal for this year is to devise a robust regulatory framework for esports in Kenya, considering all stakeholders’ inputs. Our purpose is to ensure a safe, inclusive environment free from abuse and discrimination, adhering to both Kenyan and Global Esports Federation laws. We are also investing in capacity building, with unique programs designed to enhance athletes, teams, and competition organizers’ skills, through workshops on refereeing, coaching, club management, and branding.
In terms of competition, the federation plans to expand esports tournaments beyond the capital to uncover new talents. High-performance training sessions and international tournaments are in the pipeline, all aiming to prepare athletes for the Global Esports Games in China in December 2024. We plan to implement these initiatives in a hybrid model, blending virtual and physical methodologies to reach a larger audience. Concurrently, we are striving to establish Kenya as an attractive host for regional and global esports competitions, with an emphasis on hosting the first-ever African esports championship, a project backed by the Ministry of Sports.
The realization of these initiatives relies heavily on strategic alliances with government, social institutions, media, corporations, publishers, and other sports federations. A notable partnership with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya is crucial as we approach the launch of the Olympic Esports Games. 2024 marks a significant year for esports on a local and international level. Kenya will continue to support the growth of esports, advocating for a world where innovation is central.