Africa Esports Championship officially launched in Nairobi

The event, led by Nairobi Deputy Governor James Muchiri, marked the formal start of what organisers are calling a new era for competitive mobile gaming in the country.

Speaking during the launch, Muchiri hailed the championship as a significant step for Nairobi’s growing digital economy, saying esports had the potential to create jobs, build businesses, and empower the city’s youth.

He reiterated the county government’s commitment to supporting innovation and positioning Nairobi as a hub for the fast-growing esports industry.

“This is good for our youth because it will give them an opportunity to make a living, an opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people, to be able to drive better relationships across not just Nairobi or the country but across Africa”.

The event was also attended by Ronny Lusigi, the president of Esports Kenya, who welcomed the initiative and lauded the potential of its influence, with Kenya providing the best environment for it to grow in Africa.

“It just shows you that esports is taking root here… Nairobi is the best place to do this, we have the best connections compared to our peers here”.

Also present were the Chief Officer for Digital Economy and Start-ups, and the Nairobi County CECM for Innovation and Digital Economy, both of whom pledged policy support and collaboration with private sector partners to strengthen the esports ecosystem.

Representatives from Infinix Kenya, the official gaming phone partner for the tournament, showcased their latest devices and reaffirmed their support for competitive gaming, highlighting the importance of equipping players with high-performance tools to compete at the top level.

The PUBG Mobile Africa Esports Championship will bring together sixteen of the best teams from across the continent, with the finals set for September 13 and 14 at Charter Hall, Nairobi.

Teams will battle for a prize pool of USD $8,000 and a chance to qualify for the prestigious PUBG Mobile Global Championship.

Organisers expect the event to draw significant attention from fans and media, with Nairobi hosting its first major esports final.