Kenyan esports players demand unpaid winnings from Gaming Impact Series

Several participants claim they have been ignored by the organizers despite multiple attempts to claim their winnings.

Eric Ngige, one of the affected players, says he is owed Ksh. 100,000 for his performance in the tournament but has been unable to reach the organizers for months.

"I have tried calling and texting, but there has been no response. This is money I earned fair and square, and it’s frustrating that we have to go through this," Ngige told Citizen Digital.

Another player, Joash Agutu, who finished fourth in the tournament, says he was supposed to receive Ksh. 25,000 but has yet to be paid.

When contacted by Citizen Digital, Nick Kanungi, a representative of Alpha Clan, admitted the delay and attributed it to sponsorship issues.

"I admit that we haven’t fulfilled our promises. Some of our sponsors failed to honour their commitments, which put us in a difficult position. However, I guarantee that all players will receive their payments by June," Kanungi said.

The controversy has drawn the attention of the Esports Federation of Kenya (ESFK), which has cautioned players against participating in unsanctioned tournaments and distanced itself from the competition.

In a statement, the federation advised players to only compete in officially recognized events to avoid similar disputes.

"We would like to inform all players and the general public that the said organization is not affiliated with the federation and that the competition was not sanctioned by the federation. The federation can only be involved in disputes arising from sanctioned competitions," read part of the statement.

This incident raises concerns about the accountability of tournament organizers and the financial stability of Kenya’s growing esports scene. Players are now calling for stricter regulations to protect their earnings and prevent such delays in the future.