This archive report was first published on 25 August 2019.
On Saturday, President Uhuru Kenyatta spoke at Citam's 60th anniversary celebrations at the Karen sanctuary, where he called for a ban on betting in Kenya.
He asked Nairobi Senator Johnston Sakaja and Women Representative Esther Passaris to draft a bill to ban betting, which he promised to sign into law.
President Kenyatta emphasized that existing laws should be adhered to by gaming companies until a new law is passed, and that the current laws are not sufficient to address the issue.
He also expressed concern that a few individuals are benefiting from gaming companies that claim to sponsor athletes and sportsmen.
According to the Betting Control and Licensing Board, at least 27 firms were banned in July for failing to meet undisclosed licensing requirements.
Additionally, 17 foreigners involved in illegal gambling were deported in June, as part of the government's efforts to curb the betting craze.
The Kenyan betting industry has seen a surge in popularity, with gross gambling revenue estimated at Sh7 billion monthly and Sh100 billion annually.
A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers projected that the yearly turnover of the sports betting industry in Kenya will reach $50 million in 2020.
