This archive report was first published on 14 July 2019.
On July 13, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the traditional wedding ceremony of Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and lawyer Kamotho Waiganjo, where he emphasized the importance of tax compliance among betting firms.
President Kenyatta clarified that the suspension of 27 betting firms by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) was not targeted at specific operators but was a necessary measure to ensure that all companies pay their fair share of taxes.
He noted that the government's goal is to harness the economic benefits of the betting industry, but this can only be achieved if the operators pay their taxes responsibly.
"The firms should stop threats that they will move to court. The government must get its share to fund activities that are beneficial to this country," President Kenyatta said.
He also emphasized that the government will continue to crack down on non-compliant operators, and that the suspension of betting firms is a necessary measure to ensure that all companies pay their fair share of taxes.
On July 11, 2019, the BCLB had asked clients of various betting firms to withdraw their money within 48 hours, and on July 12, 2019, telecommunication company Safaricom blocked deposit transactions to paybill numbers of blacklisted betting firms.
