MPs defend plan to control runaway gambling

A security guard frisks customers outside a betting parlour in Nairobi's city centre on July 30, 2016. MPs have rejected a Motion to form a committee to investigate betting companies. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Parliament has formed an 11-member joint committee to look into the gambling craze, with at least five million Kenyans taking up betting.
  • Mr Wamatangi said gambling should not be allowed to take over the lives of young people.
  • The MPs said time had come to rein in on the industry.

Members of Parliament on Tuesday defended the committee formed to address gambling addiction in Kenya, saying the industry was destroying the lives of many youth.

Speaking on NTV’s "AM Live" on Tuesday morning, the legislators said gambling had destroyed young lives and should be nipped in the bud before it becomes a full-blown disaster.

Parliament has formed an 11-member joint committee to look into the gambling craze, with at least five million Kenyans taking up betting.

The team will be co-chaired by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Deale and National Assembly Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo.

Cord leader Raila Odinga had on Saturday termed betting in Kenya “the next big scandal” as young people go out of their way to seek a part of the billions being floated around by the many betting companies.

Speaking during the morning TV show, Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi, Mr Midiwo and Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi said time had come to rein in the industry.

“We have seen suicides, and many families have been broken because of this thing,” said Mr Midiwo, who two weeks ago told Parliament that the industry was enabling tax evasion and money laundering.

Mr Linturi said gambling had been aided by technology, which he said must also be addressed.

“We must be looking at how we need to manage the technology bit in the gambling sector,” said Mr Linturi.

Mr Wamatangi said gambling should not be allowed to take over the lives of young people.

“Gambling is addictive. It is even worse than heroin or cocaine.

“We cannot let it be an everyday thing. And this thing is also about policies we make as a country,” said Senator Wamatangi.