The Esports Federation of Kenya reached another milestone after Ronny Lusigi emerged as the newly elected President of the federation in the national elections conducted on 27th September 2023.
Born and raised up in the sprawling slums of Kibera in Nairobi Kenya, Ronny Lusigi turned to video games to distract himself from crime and drug abuse that are rampant in the informal settlement that is urguably the largest in Sub-saharan Africa.
Upon completing his high school studies, Ronny joined the Univeristy of Nairobi where his passion for video gaming grew even bigger. His hunger and thirst for video games saw him become a founder of one of the leading gaming companies in Kenya Index G that has become a household name in the industry.
His love for the game has seen him traverse the globe attending conferences and international tournaments where Kenya has had its fair share of dominance.
Ronny Lusigi with Prince Faisal the esport global vice president
As he assumes the daunting task as the youngest federation leader in Kenya at only 28 years, Ronny envisions a future where esports could be a viable profession, where athletes s could earn a sustainable living through their passion for gaming.
My promise…Lusigi.
Lusigi, 28, garnered 23 votes to floor his only competitor for the position Mwaniki Mwanzia who received four votes only In the election held at Ngong Hills Hotel in Nairobi
While accepting the honour to lead the federation, Mr Lusigi thanked the delegates for trusting him and promised to move the Federation a notch higher.
“We thank everyone for competing in a dignified manner. We are going to put our best foot forward to develop eSports in the country.We shall be meeting soon as the new team and come up with new strategies that will bring benefits to the players. We want to work with experts and the pioneer leaders who made this federation a reality,” said Lusigi
Lusigi further promised to put in place a structured ecosystem that will ensure smooth and professional administration of the sport in Kenya. He reckons that for the sport to reach to the global standards, collaboration with learning institutions and establishing an elaborate training programmes, holding tournaments regularly to nurture talents from grassroots level must be key.
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The new president has urged partners not to shy away from collaborating with the Federation with the sole aim of improving sports in the country.
He sought alliances with corporate sponsors, investors, and international esports organizations to attract funding and expertise to Kenya.
“With a strengthened financial base, we intend to build state-of-the-art esports facilities, organize larger tournaments, and provide lucrative incentives for players. This dream can only be realized with support from all the industry players.
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As he settles down to start executing his mandate as Federation’s President his intray is already full.
Part of the first projects on his desk is to select a team that will represent Kenya in the Global E-sport Championships set for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December this year.
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Vice President Anne Odhiambo who was also elected said she will play a crucial role in advocating for gender inclusivity within esports.
“We are all aware of the roles women play in sports. As the federation’s second in command, I shall advocate for a multifaceted plan whose sole aim will be to bridge the gap in gender disparity in this sport. We shall deliberately put in place policies that shall attract the female gender to this sport just like it is done in other jurisdictions
Our goal is to ensure that women get prominent roles not only as players but also as coaches, analysts, broadcasters, and executives within the esports industry. To achieve this, we shall purpose to work closely with schools and communities to promote esports as a viable career choice for young girls, breaking stereotypes and fostering a culture of inclusivity ” she said.
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ESports Kenya national elections new team at the helm.
Mwanzi Mwaniki conceded defeat and congratulated Lusigi (pictured), noting that the election was free and fair
President- Ronny Lusigi (22 votes), Mwaniki Mwanzia (4 votes)
Vice President- Ann Odhiambo (22), Celine Leroshion (5)
1st VP- John Odhiambo (Unopposed)
Life member- John Shinakha
Sec Gen- Omar Sadique Mohammed (Unopposed).
Treasurer- Hellen Kairu (20), Lydia Bisereri (7)
Athlete Rep- Brian Ochanda (24), Moses Koech (3)
Corporate member representative Mike Lulu .
The New team at the helm.
Corporate member representative Mike Lulu himself a video game enthusiast has called on corporates to work with the Federation for the betterment of the sport in the country.
“The world has turned digital and Kenya should not be left behind. As the government encourages new innovations in the digital space, gaming is one way of taking advantage of the available opportunities to help move our country forward” Lulu said.
The new team has vowed to stand united in their vision for the Esports Federation of Kenya, embarking on a journey to transform the gaming landscape in the country.
Their strategic plans, dedication, and collaboration shall all be geared towards bringing Kenya into the global esports arena, where opportunities abound and dreams of professional gaming careers become a reality
While congratulating the Federation for holding a free and fair elections devoid of chaos,
Sports registrar Rose Wasike challenged the 2018 formed federation to expand its territories and give the youths a chance to bridge the gap between unemployment in the country and drug abuse.
