CEO Weekends: Gaming is a Young Industry in Africa, But it’s Promising-Leti Arts Wesley Kirinya

“Gaming is a young industry in Africa, but it’s promising,” Leti Arts CTO and Co-Founder Wesley Kirinya told TechMoran on the sidelines of the recent Games & SDG Summit in Nairobi. “It’s still a young industry in Africa, but it’s promising especially because the continent has rich stories and content that can be turned into compelling games.”

He added that while infrastructure gaps persist, shifts in technology and work culture are beginning to level the playing field for the industry.

“Remote and online work now allows teams to collaborate across the continent, which lowers the barrier for talent regardless of geography,” Kirinya said. Kirinya added that rising smartphone adoption and improving internet access are expanding both the player base and the developer pipeline.

Equally important is the rise of local esports events.

“We’re seeing more esports events being organized, and that visibility will bring more people into the industry,” he said, adding that each event, tournament, and community initiative adds momentum gradually transforming gaming from a niche interest into a recognized sector.

TechMoran caught up with Wesley and here is what he told us.

Esports is often viewed as entertainment. What does it practically mean to position it as a force for global good, and where are we already seeing real impact?

One of the effective ways to educate is through entertainment because that catches and maintains attention. E-sports is one additional entertainment option where gamers meet online or physically to play their favorite games as well as compete. Besides the gamers there’s also the audience. E-sports therefore brings together people from different countries and cultures to share something they have in common, and from that gathering friendships, cultural exchanges and better understanding of each other takes place. That results in global good and impact.

Leti has a couple of games that have been part of e-sports events such as the MTN sponsored Conquest e-sports event.

Why haven’t we had more gaming companies or startups in Kenya or Africa?

Games are complex to make. They require a diverse skillset which up until recently was difficult to find in Africa. There are still some challenges e.g. monetization options (mobile money) that are not subscription capable.
It’s still a young industry in the continent but looks promising in the coming years especially because Africa has great stories and content that can be made into games.

Infrastructure and access remain key barriers. How do we build an inclusive esports or gaming ecosystem where talent can emerge regardless of geography or resources?

Remote and online working allows teams to work together across the continent. Infrastructure and internet access is largely in place, at least significant enough, so are smart phones. I see more and more esports events being organized in the coming years, and this should lift the popularity of such events and gaming in the continent. The increased popularity brings with it more people who want to work in the industry. Building games is not resource intensive, rather it just needs people with the right skillset. There are also collaborations with game developers in Europe and U.S. These collaborations are valuable in building local skills.

From a policy and investment lens, what should the Kenyan government and stakeholders prioritize to unlock growth and legitimacy in the sector?

This is difficult for me to give a genuine answer because over the years I’ve come to realise there are complexities and bureaucracies when talking about governments and stakeholders. Rather than give a specific “wishful thinking” answer, I’d say, if the existing policies and the economy is at a good place then all industries, not just gaming, will thrive.

Some parents claim gaming is addictive and toxic, how do we use gaming for good like education, inclusion, and well addressing concerns like addiction and toxicity?

Anything that is abused will give a negative result. I’d encourage parents to seek out games that add value to their children’s lives. It’s more for people/parents to resist manipulative and false marketing of games that don’t add value. If educational and inclusive games have a larger audience the game developers will make games for the audience.

Looking ahead, what needs to be done to unlock gaming’s full potential in Kenya?

This is complicated to answer. First I don’t know what that full potential is, but at least I know it can be much bigger than what it is now. I’d say higher quality production skills, subscription-based monetization options and localized game content.