Kenya's Betting and Licensing Board now requires tax clearance from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for all betting and gaming operations, following a directive from Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangí.
The regulation, effective July 1, 2022, mandates that new and renewed licenses must include verification from KRA, the Financial Reporting Centre, and an inter-agency security team. Matiangí emphasized that unlicensed operators have exploited the sector for years, evading taxes and enabling financial crimes.
In a statement, the CS warned that illegal betting firms facilitate money laundering and criminal financing. He ordered the board to block access to unlicensed websites and mobile money pay bills linked to illicit operations. The directive also requires continuous monitoring of unauthorized betting platforms.
The policy update follows concerns over tax avoidance by foreign and local betting companies, with Matiangí stating, "The government has long sought to eliminate unscrupulous entities that exploit citizens and evade tax obligations." The measure applies to both domestic and international operators, with compliance mandatory by July 1, 2002.
