This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
On July 12, 2019, the government ordered Safaricom to stop processing payments for sports betting companies, including Betin Kenya and SportPesa, citing non-tax compliance.
Despite having court orders allowing them to continue operating, the two firms claim the switch-off of their M-Pesa pay bills and SMS short codes is illegal.
They have since sued the state, seeking compensation for the days they have been out of business and the suspension of their payment systems lifted.
The betting firms also want the chairman and top executives of the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) jailed or fined for ordering the switch-off despite the court order.
They also want the court to quash a notice issued by BCLB to Safaricom that disabled their SMS short codes and M-Pesa paybills.
According to reports, the two firms, which are among the biggest in the sector, were among 27 firms whose betting licences had not been renewed, pending the outcome of an inquiry on suitability to operate.
