Safaricom has stepped into unfamiliar but fast-growing territory by convening its first-ever Gaming Conference at the Michael Joseph Centre in Nairobi on Friday.
The one-day event, branded ‘Level Up Africa: Unlocking Gaming Potential in Africa’, pulled together developers, investors, and gaming enthusiasts to interrogate where the industry is heading.
The sessions explored the surge of eSports, innovations in game development, and the role that technology, policy, and financing will play in nurturing a thriving African market.
Safaricom’s Chief Consumer Business Officer, Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, told participants that the company views gaming as more than just entertainment.
"Gaming is more than just play, it’s talent, creativity, and opportunity," she remarked.
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"At Safaricom, we believe in powering the youth and building platforms where skills can turn into careers, innovations, and thriving communities.”
Alongside panel discussions, the conference also created the atmosphere of a cultural fair.
Visitors engaged with exhibitions covering film, television, music, cosplay, live stage performances, and gaming merchandise, offering a colourful backdrop to the industry conversations.
Yet the optimism came with caution.
Speakers underlined that Africa’s gaming sector still wrestles with weak policy support, limited funding for developers, and the risk of talent drain as skilled creators relocate abroad.
Safaricom’s involvement in gaming is not new.
Back in 2019, the company joined forces with Pro Series Gaming (PSG) to stage an eSports tournament for 18–26-year-olds, designed not only as competition but also as a mentorship platform for young people eager to turn gaming into a career.
Two years later, in 2021, it launched the MobiPlay Challenge on its Games Lounge service.
The eight-week contest featured puzzles, arcade, and action titles, rewarding players with daily and weekly prizes, before closing with a grand prize.
In 2024, the firm followed up with ‘Wai Ndai’, a 90-day online challenge that handed out cash vouchers worth Sh500,000 in total, while three Suzuki Altos went to the grand winners.
This year, Safaricom sponsored the 2025 Otamatsuri Gaming Convention at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Its 5G network powered the entire festival, giving attendees access to ultra-fast connections and low-latency gameplay that enabled smooth online competition and interaction.
By hosting its inaugural conference, the telecoms company has now elevated its role beyond sponsorships and competitions, positioning itself as a convener of ideas for Africa’s budding gaming economy.
