Kenyan and Chinese youth have come together in Nairobi for the inaugural Kenya Elephants Cup, using esports to promote cultural exchange while opening new opportunities for Kenya’s growing gaming industry.

The Honor of Kings tournament, held on Sunday, September 20, brought together players from the two countries in a competition organised by the Kenya Chinese Youth Association and the Chinese Association, in collaboration with the Chinese and Kenyan governments, with support from Elephants. The Kenyan competition was organised by Kylin Esports.

Speaking during the event, Kylin Esports Director Collins Oloo said the tournament could help strengthen Kenya’s esports ecosystem and identify talent capable of competing on the international stage.

Oloo said Kenya has not had enough representation in major global esports competitions, making grassroots tournaments important in developing competitive players.

“At the hub, gamers come together, sharpen their skills, interact and consolidate the community. We feel that our centre is a place where this community can grow from this point on over time,” Oloo said.

Kylin Esports has established a gaming hub at Zarafa Suites in Kilimani, Nairobi, where gamers can train, interact and build a stronger gaming community.

For Kenya Chinese Youth Association President Yang Min, the tournament was more than a gaming competition.

“Today’s event is for Kenyan youth and Chinese youth to see each other. We have the same things we like, so we can meet together,” Yang said.

She said shared interests such as esports could create opportunities for deeper cultural and economic ties between Kenya and China.

“Today we meet because of eSports, and then we know each other more,” she said, adding that such interactions could eventually lead to business partnerships and other collaborations.

Yang, who described Kenya as her “second hometown”, said she hopes initiatives of this nature will enable Kenyans and Chinese nationals to understand each other’s cultures better.

The tournament also gave Kenyan gamers a platform to showcase their skills and seek greater exposure beyond the local scene.

Dickson Ouya, one of the Kenyan participants, said he joined the competition to demonstrate that Kenya has players capable of competing internationally.

“I’ve come today to this Honor of Kings event to represent our country and show that, as Kenyans, we also participate in these tournaments. Our representation on the global stage hasn’t been that great, so this is just the beginning,” Ouya said.

Ouya, who uses the gamer tag Troy and has played mobile multiplayer online battle arena games for about eight years, said Kenyan players could benefit from interacting with Chinese gamers, who have extensive experience in the genre.

“For us, this is a great opportunity to showcase what we have as Kenyans and also to learn from the Chinese,” he said.

His team, Kenyan Avengers, emerged from the Kenyan competition to earn the opportunity to face the Chinese winners in the final.

Ouya said increased visibility was crucial in changing perceptions about Kenya’s gaming scene.

“We have to let them know we are here. They have to know that we have players playing in Kenya, and it’s not just the Chinese playing this game,” he said.

Organisers said the Kenya Elephants Cup is expected to provide a platform for sustained interaction between Kenyan and Chinese youth while supporting the growth of Kenya’s digital entertainment and esports sector.

They also hope future editions will provide Kenyan gamers with more opportunities to compete regionally and globally.