Kenyan telecom giant Safaricom recently hosted its first-ever gaming conference, ‘Level Up Africa,’ in Nairobi, signaling a strategic focus on expanding its role in the continent's gaming ecosystem.

• The event gathered gamers, developers, and investors to discuss the future of interactive entertainment and the business opportunities within African gaming.
• Safaricom’s Chief Consumer Business Officer, Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, highlighted gaming as a platform for youth talent, creativity, and career opportunities.
• The conference addressed hurdles such as a lack of clear government policies, investment challenges for indie developers, and the issue of “brain drain” of top talent.
• Safaricom aims to become a foundational platform by leveraging its 5G connectivity, M-Pesa payment rails, and now, providing a meeting place for the entire African gaming industry.