Africa rising: The ladies shaping Kenya’s gaming trade – Folks

In the guts of East Africa, Kenya’s gaming trade is present process a change, and ladies are on the forefront of its evolution. Once thought-about an rising market, Kenya has quick change into a hub for innovation, regulation and know-how, with ladies driving change at each degree of the ecosystem.

This month, as a part of the iGaming Business x Women in Gaming Africa month-to-month column, we highlight 5 outstanding Kenyan ladies whose work is redefining how the world sees Africa’s gaming panorama. From regulators to authorized specialists, communicators and platform leaders, their tales mirror a rustic that’s not simply rising, however main.

The regulator’s perspective: Building belief via construction

For Esther Argwings, assistant director at Kenya’s Gaming, Betting Control and Licensing Board, her 26-year journey via the trade mirrors its evolution. Having risen from gaming inspector to senior management, she has seen Kenya’s gaming trade develop from native casinos to a dynamic, digitally enabled ecosystem.

“The industry has grown in numbers and in keeping up with international operations,” she explains. “With the new Gambling Control Act of 2025, there are new opportunities for operators and better instruments to regulate the sector effectively.”

Esther’s mission is deeply rooted in accountable gaming and schooling. “The public needs to be sensitised about the harms of gambling and the importance of responsible play,” she says. “We’re working to ensure players can access help when they need it, and to build a system that prioritises safety and compliance.”

Her message to the worldwide gaming neighborhood is evident: Kenya will not be a frontier, it’s a dynamic innovation hub formed by its youth, know-how and ambition.

The connector: Bridging native expertise with world platforms

For Agatha Wanjugu, gross sales and account supervisor at QTech Games, Kenya’s potential lies in connection. “What drew me to [Kenya’s] gaming industry is how it blends technology, creativity and community,” she says. “It’s fast-paced, constantly evolving and every day brings something new.”

She believes Kenya’s largest progress potential lies in creating platforms that join world content material with native gamers whereas showcasing African expertise. “It’s not just about importing games,” she provides.

“It’s about building ecosystems that include esports, homegrown content and partnerships that celebrate African creativity.”

At QTech, her focus is on localisation and collaboration. “We work closely with partners to adapt offerings to African markets, from language to bonuses to player engagement. By amplifying local voices and ensuring responsible growth, we’re helping shape a sustainable gaming future.”

The platform visionary: Building African frameworks for world content material

Zsuzsanna Zeibig, common supervisor at EGT Kenya, has spent twenty years in gaming, working her means up from croupier to regional chief. Now based mostly in Nairobi, she oversees each digital content material distribution and land-based options throughout Africa, giving her a novel perspective on how know-how and localisation are shaping the continent’s future.

“The regulation is being shaped to accommodate both industry players and local audiences,” she says.

“But one of the biggest challenges is that new markets often try to copy existing Western regulations. African countries should learn from one another instead, because each market has unique cultural, economic and political dynamics.”

For Zsuzsanna, progress in Kenya’s gaming trade lies in adapting know-how to African realities whereas empowering native gamers and companions.

“Sports and crash games are leading now, but casino content is growing fast. The most exciting part is that we’re here at the beginning, helping shape how digital gaming evolves in Africa.”

The communicator: Giving Kenya’s trade its voice

Lola Okulo, co-founder of Tact Communications and former head of PR for BetPawa Africa, has spent almost a decade shaping the narrative of gaming throughout the continent.

She didn’t plan to enter the trade, “it chose me,” she laughs, however she rapidly turned considered one of its strongest advocates. “This industry contributes so much to sports and ecommerce, but often struggles with reputation and misunderstanding,” she says. “Communications should sit at the heart of business strategy, guiding decisions and building trust.”

For Lola, Kenya’s success is inseparable from its technological edge. “We’re a mobile-first market with one of the most advanced fintech ecosystems in the world,” she explains. “Financial inclusion, mobile money and connectivity create an environment where gaming can thrive responsibly.”

Her purpose is to see communications elevated throughout African operators. “When communications leads from the top, we prevent issues before they arise and tell our story with pride.”

The authorized architect: Championing duty and AI integration

Rounding out the group is Aileen Yonah-Mima, common counsel for Carnaval Kenya Ltd, who has been instrumental in embedding accountable gaming into company DNA. “My passion comes from developing initiatives that promote responsible play and leading CSR projects that uplift communities,” she says.

Aileen’s authorized work is shaping the subsequent part of Kenya’s gaming progress. “The biggest opportunity lies in integrating AI to balance profitability and responsibility,” she explains. “AI can help personalise player experiences while mitigating risk, ensuring both sustainable business and player welfare.”

Her perspective displays a broader Kenyan reality: innovation and ethics can coexist. “We’re not just a market,” she insists. “We’re a Silicon Savannah, driven by creativity and technology. Success here comes from deep investment in local talent, not surface-level presence.”

Kenya’s ladies, Africa’s future

Together, these 5 ladies paint a portrait of Kenya’s gaming trade that’s vibrant, moral and forward-looking. They symbolize regulators setting requirements, firms bridging continents and professionals advocating for transparency, collaboration and inclusion.

Their work is proof that Africa’s story is not considered one of potential, it’s considered one of progress.

As Kenya continues to innovate and the worldwide highlight grows brighter, the ladies main this transformation remind us that gaming in Africa isn’t nearly know-how or revenue. It’s about individuals. It’s about imaginative and prescient. And it’s about constructing an trade that future generations could be pleased with.

About Women in Gaming Africa

Women in Gaming Africa (WiG Africa) is a non-profit neighborhood connecting, elevating and empowering ladies throughout the continent’s gaming trade.

Through occasions, mentorship and advocacy, WiG Africa champions illustration, management and inclusion whereas fostering a stronger, extra related African gaming ecosystem. Learn extra or become involved at www.womeningamingafrica.org.