NAIROBI, Kenya – The government has escalated its crackdown on illegal betting promotions by ordering the suspension of pay services for 23 TV stations accused of breaching advertising regulations.
The move comes after the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) discovered that the stations had ignored a 30-day suspension order and continued to air unauthorized betting content.
In a letter addressed to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), dated May 5, 2025, and copied to Safaricom and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the BCLB demanded immediate action to shut down the stations’ paybill and till numbers.
The stations in question have been found to persist in airing betting promotions, including displaying payment details on screen and encouraging viewers to participate in betting schemes.
The BCLB’s directive affects several media outlets, including Tohanchane TV, Favour Life TV, Yahweh TV, Wave Time, and Goodwill TV, among others.
These stations, which also include Swahili TV, Kameme TV, and Venus TV, are accused of violating the suspension that was meant to halt all betting advertisements for a set period.
THE FOLLOWING TV STATIONS RISK CLOSURE FOR RUNNING UNAUTHORIZED PROMOTIONS.
According to the BCLB, these stations continued to air betting content despite the suspension, directly contravening the regulatory requirements.
The violations reportedly include the display of paybill and till numbers, inviting viewers to engage in betting promotions.
This persistent disregard for the suspension has prompted the BCLB to take drastic measures, instructing Safaricom to disable all payment services linked to the offending media outlets.
The BCLB emphasized the importance of enforcing regulations to safeguard consumers from the potential harms of unregulated gambling activities.
The crackdown aligns with the government’s broader strategy to impose tighter controls on betting and ensure compliance with advertising regulations.
“The government is committed to protecting Kenyan consumers, especially the youth, from the risks associated with gambling. The Betting Control and Licensing Board will not tolerate violations of these regulations,” said a BCLB official.
The regulatory body has called on the Communications Authority to take swift enforcement actions against the media houses involved.
“We urge the Communications Authority to take immediate measures to enforce compliance and ensure that such violations do not continue,” the statement added.
In addition to the suspension of pay services, the BCLB is working with law enforcement agencies to pursue legal action against the promoters responsible for the illegal advertising.
This move is expected to send a strong message to other media houses and betting operators about the government’s zero-tolerance stance on unauthorized gambling content.
The crackdown comes as part of a series of steps the government has taken to regulate betting activities and ensure that advertising standards are strictly adhered to across the media landscape.
