Sylvia Gathoni Wahome is not your regular law student, she has made history by becoming the first Kenyan pro gamer to be signed to a reputable eSports club.
Known in gaming circles as Queenarrow or malikasiheme98 on PSN, Wahome was recruited by US-based outfit XiT Woundz.
According to Wahome, she was contacted by the team shortly after she took part in a Tekken 254 tournament in Nairobi.
"With XiT Woundz signing Mrs. QueenArrow, we hope that other Western esports entities follow suit and sign players from Kenya and elsewhere! As we all come together, to develop and support each other, our players can grow and help all scenes gain exposure," the company announced.
Wahome revealed that the biggest challenge she faced in the local scene was earning respect as a woman in a male-dominated industry.
[caption caption="Participants at a past PSG Africa tournament in Nairobi"]
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"Sometimes I feel that I have to work extra hard to prove that I’m just as good if not better than most of the guys in the industry," she noted in a recent interview.
She further identified lack of support from corporates, exorbitant console prices and a lack of awareness on professional gaming as hindrances slowing the growth of eSports in Kenya.
While the eSports industry in the country is still considered nascent, notable strides have been made in recent years due to the efforts of individuals and organizations such as Pro Series Gaming (PSG).
PSG has been behind some of the country's biggest eSports events so far helping position Kenya as an eSports hub in Africa.
They include the Pro-Series Gaming Africa Tournament that has seen top talents battle it out in games that include Mortal Kombat XL, FIFA 18 and Call of Duty: World War II.
[caption caption="Participants at a past PSG Africa tournament in Nairobi"]
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