We’ve persistently said and warned Kenyans on this site that gambling firms are scammers and that’s just it. However, Kenya is still overpopulated with idiots and that’s just exactly what these crooks depend on. It is business, a dirty one for that matter, no one will ever give you free money or anything. If it’s free, then you’re market.
S.K. Macharia one of the leading billionaires in the poor country besides having one of the biggest media houses in the region wasn’t contented with the much he had made. I really don’t get why rich people are bloody hungry for money. Anyway, I won’t say anything about his drunkard son who was killed in an accident while under influence as it was speculated. ` Royal Media House dived into the betting business an industry that according to statistics, about 76% of Kenyan youths mostly unemployed and poor have taken as their money making venture not knowing they’re the bait.
When it started, Shabiki was heavily advertised on RMS platforms, in fact, all betting firms were banned from advertising on RMS when Shabiki was launched. Given the fact that RMS enjoys the biggest media space in Kenya, it was obvious the product would reach millions. It did.
Years down the line, the scam has come to surface even though late. We’re calling upon the Betting Control And Licencing Board and the Interior CS Matiang’i to pay close attention and save many Kenyans from getting scammed. Better late than never, we can’t afford another Gakuyo fraud scheme. Recently, SportPesa and Betin were found to be withholding taxes and according to the CS, betting firms have been making approx Sh200B yearly yet declaring just under Sh4B making them tax evaders in hundreds of billions. Economic sabotage.
Matiang’i has tried to crash on the den of thieves but selectively, in the sense that, many are still going around with their scam games. Few foreigners many of whom are the majority shareholders in the betting industry were deported. Kenya is a rich ground for scammers. Kenya leads in gambling firms regionally.
Shabiki Gamblers are beyond disappointed Following a familiar scamming pattern where the company admits to error. They’ve announced and even called many winners only to flip the tables that it was a mere error.
There was a major scandal at betting company Shabiki.Com that was never resolved. Apparently there were 8 winners who won KSH 2 million each but the company refused to pay!
We’ve followed up on many but will just highlight a few and forward the rest of complaints to the BCLB to conduct their own investigations. While these are not isolated cases, the persistent complaints at S.K. Macharia’s betting firm alludes to a well organized crime in which unsuspecting Kenyans continue to get duped and those not doing due diligence getting scammed through Shabiki.
In the latest scam, Facebook user Asali Chungu writes on the Shabiki Facebook page, “CON ALERT! Shabiki is a scam Shabiki is a scam that is there to defraud those who bet, how can you make such an error and go ahead and congratulate winner? Were it not that most of us are keen it could have just passed by, where was BCLB? I thought they are supposed to verify the results before you announce the winner? Your adverts are misleading because most of us joined thinking of bonus! Its ok there is no bonus what a coincidence that you announced a winner for 13/13 and after correction it’s the only person same game that scored 12/13? As usual you have your predetermined winner or those you pay to act on TV. SHABIKI IS A CON AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!!!!. Lets go back to sportpesa and others, how can you predict 12 games they say its 13? Predict 11 they say its 12!”
This followed an admission by Shabiki that there was an error on the winners announced. What raises the suspicions is the consistent ‘bug’.
Gambler Felix Muthugumi says, “Incompetency management.If you can update results without verifying,You can still select your winners. ” Hinting at a scamming loophole on the system.
Rahab Wanjiru writes, “hivo ndio muneishi kusema kwani nyinyi tu ndio hua na error I withdrew after my friend Antony nadunga was called by you shabiki and you told him that he had won 10m but after few hours you wrote him an email stating that he lost,,, the went into depression.”
Shabiki has also been accused of false advertising according to a customer Humphrey Mukombozi, “Hawa shabiki power 13 ni wezi , kwanza kwa radio muliwaambia waseme eti kuna bonuses kwanzia 8/13 but hampeani,bure kabisa na sitaai tena bet kwa P13 byebye unless bonus irudi bye.”
Alex Sak Korir too had more to say on Shabiki, “Thun vs Aarau match was cancelled na bado mnapeana results :joy: Kenyans wake up. This is total thievery!! Anyway how can we really trust that there is a winner of 12/13?? What if shabiki decided just to say that? And maybe the actual winner is at 10/13?? From my own judgement, this is the most untrustworthy jackpot, heri Ile ya sport pesa iko na bonus so that ata sport pesa ikidanfanya ati winner ako na 12/13 na wewe uko 11/12, bado utapata bonus. Hii ingine hii apana. Shabiki NO!”
Peter Njogu On Shabiki Facebook page says, “I stopped betting in this site the time I got 12 games,,,then boom 25 winners with 13/13..open your eyes and run,just run coz unless you get 13 games you will never win anything here..better risk in a worthy betting company Like Sportpesa News rather than wasting your money here.Thieves!”
“Shabiki ni wezi I got 11/13 when results were out but at around 2:35pm they cancelled results where I got 10/13 now they say the winner had 12/13 what about the rest that got 11/13 and 10/13 as they say,this betting company should be brought down by Matiangi but now I know them thieves.” Ja Kobilo Yago also complains.
James Mwangi another disgruntled gambler wrote,”Goodbye shabwizi” alluding to Shabiki as thieves. David Mbatia another gambler feeling shortchanged by Shabiki wrote,”We need this Shabiki scams licence withdrawn ASAP. BCLB cannot just watch as Kenyans get scammed under their watch.”
See through the comments of majority whom feel scammed by the gambling company that is Shabiki. As Matiang’i embarks on fresh auditing of betting firms from 1st July, we’re expecting that no tables shall be left unshaken and that for our first case, Shabiki fans are cushioned from further scamming. If this thing is not regulated then many gullible Kenyans will remain exposed to scamming in an area that billions are at disposal of conmen.
Shabiki must therefore be audited and if the right thing is to be done then the BCLB must immediately suspend its operation license otherwise Kenyans are exposed to thieves like Shabiki.