This archive report was first published on 16 July 2019.
On July 15, 2019, sports betting firm Nanovas International (K) Limited, trading as betPawa, took the Betting Control and Licenses Board (BCLB) to court over a government directive that cancelled its operational license.
betPawa is one of 27 betting firms targeted by BCLB for allegedly failing to comply with various regulations.
As a result, mobile money service providers Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom Kenya were directed to withdraw pay bill numbers and SMS codes of the betting companies last week Wednesday.
betPawa claims that BCLB acted without any prior notification, involvement, or their participation, and that the government's actions are unlawful.
The bookmaker, in an affidavit by Cynthia Onyango, argues that it stands to suffer monumental losses and exposure as a result of the government's actions, affecting not only the company but also its employees, stakeholders, and members of the general public.
betPawa wants to be allowed to continue utilizing its pay bill numbers and short codes without any interference by the regulator pending hearing and determination of the case.
The case has been certified as urgent and hearing set for July 17, 2019.
