When it comes to sports, the conversation is largely based on football, basketball, tennis, formula 1 and other physically involved activities. Here in Kenya, track and field events have been the major sporting events covered and appreciated by a large audience. Today we look at a different kind of sport, E-Sports.

According to the records, the first E-Sports competition was held in 1972 at Stanford University. I would love to go on about all that was involved but I’ll do you one better and add a link to the article once this episode is uploaded. After all, you’re here to hear about how the Kenyan scene is.

Before the pandemic, gaming parlours and competitions had begun pulling in large crowds and the parlours were even lauded as one of the more profitable businesses for budding entrepreneurs. It was through this that the E-Sports Federation of Kenya was formed. The competitions themselves brought to light a new form of income for the youth and players like Queen Arrow represented the country in more than one international competition.

In terms of returns, the gaming parlours provided a lot of young people a better way to spend their time other than being involved in vices and other unnecessary habits. They also got to earn, well not all of them, the winners only – I don’t think participation trophies count when you lose 5 – 0 in FIFA. By 2021 the financial projections claimed that the industry would be worth over 50 million Kenya shillings.

On today’s show, we speak with the Head of E-Sports at Jiwe Sports Eugene Mweri. He is also a mental health advocate and a broadcast journalist. We look at how the scene has evolved in the past few years, the Tusker nexters and other E-Sport competitions as well as get to know other projects he has been involved in.

FEATURED MUSIC 

1. Mmmh mmh - Maandy

2. Sirudi home - Maandy, Breeder LW

3. Wena - Thayu Mwas

4. Moment - Xtatic

5. Githambutha - Ayrosh, Xtatic

6. Ere Yo - Akoth Jumadi

7. Kama Kawaida - The Squad; Fena, Mayonde, Muthoni DQ, Kagwe Mungai

8. Balance - Jason Kalinga

9. Love, Respect, Repeat - Ayrosh, Ythera Music

10. Usiache Akemewe - Khaliraph Jones

11. Aki Wewe - Kwame Rigii

12. Tropkos Riddim - Xprso, Chevy Kev, Mars Maasai, Mr lu, Baby's Breath, Sookie

13. Mapema Ndo Best - Fatboy Gwash, K4Kanali

14. Kesho Kutwa - Ethan Muziki

15. Properly - Nyashinski, Femione

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