This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
On August 24, 2019, President Kenyatta threw his weight behind the proposal to ban gambling in Kenya, calling on Members of Parliament to enact a law that prohibits or spells out tough rules and regulations for gambling companies.
Speaking at the 60th-anniversary celebrations of CITAM Church in Karen, Nairobi, Kenyatta said he supports the idea to completely shut the gambling sector in the country but has no powers to do so.
He called on MPs to help him rein in the sector, which has been accused of tax evasion and other vices, saying, “So long as they are operating within Kenya, and are guided by the laws of the land, they should give Caesar what belongs to Caesar. You [MPs] should help me do it, I cannot rein in on them alone,”
His administration had embarked on a campaign aimed at streamlining the gambling industry, which has been accused of tax evasion, among other vices.
Earlier, the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) suspended 27 betting companies over allegations of failing to remit taxes amounting to Sh60 billion, including SportPesa, Betin, and Betway, who enjoy close to 85 percent of the Kenyan bookmaking market.
