NAIROBI, Kenya – Lawmakers have raised alarm over the growing gambling addiction crisis among Kenyan youth, as the National Assembly moved closer to passing a reworked version of the Gambling Control Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 70 of 2023).
The mediated bill, now at an advanced stage of legislative approval, seeks to radically reform Kenya’s gambling landscape by tightening regulation on betting, casinos, prize competitions, and public lotteries.
A key highlight of the proposed law is the creation of a new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya, which will replace the existing Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB).
Moving the motion to adopt the Mediation Committee’s report, Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku said the proposed authority would be responsible for licensing, regulation, and enforcement in an industry that many say has spiraled out of control.
“We are dealing with a growing menace that has gone unchecked for too long,” Thuku said. “The Gambling Authority will be empowered to regulate and rein in rogue operators who prey on vulnerable Kenyans, especially the youth.”
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who seconded the motion, criticized the current regulatory framework, arguing it had failed to prevent the social and economic harm caused by unregulated gambling.
“We cannot continue allowing young people to believe that betting is a viable economic activity,” Ichung’wah said. “The only way to win this fight is through a strong and effective Act of Parliament that discourages gambling addiction and promotes productivity.”
Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi echoed the concern, calling for a legal age limit on gambling similar to Kenya’s alcohol laws.
“We need to build an age limit on gambling in Kenya. Just like alcohol, the age limit should be 21 years,” Elachi said, adding that stricter rules on the minimum bet amount could also deter impulsive participation among youth.
“If placing a bet required more money, say Sh200 or more, it would discourage young people from gambling casually and frequently,” she added.
The bill also aims to streamline tax compliance for gambling operators and shield consumers from exploitative practices that have plagued the fast-growing sector.
If passed, it will represent Kenya’s most significant legal intervention in the gambling space in over a decade.
With betting outlets proliferating across the country and online platforms reaching millions of users daily, lawmakers say time is running out to implement meaningful reforms that protect Kenya’s youth from a growing addiction that threatens their future.
