Businessman Anthony Kung'u to head betting body

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has appointed businessman Anthony Kimani Kung’u the new chairman of the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) that controls the Sh5 billion gambling industry.

Mr Kung’u’s appointment was published in a gazette notice on January 22. He will serve for three years.

Before his appointment, Mr Kung’u, who succeeds Prof Musili Wambua, was the CEO of Basic It Education for Schools and had worked with Lynx International Kenya Limited.

The board has been characterised by wrangles with pressure mounting on Prof Wambua to step down from the position.

Those opposed to him said it is unlawful for him to hold two public offices. Prof Wambua is also an Associate Dean at the University of Nairobi’s School of Law.  

The Association of Human Resource Practitioners in Kenya was among those who contested Prof Wambua’s leadership of the board.

Mr Kung’u will be in charge of  betting, lotteries and gaming industry that has been growing.

PUBLIC LOTTERIES

BCLB, a government agency under the ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, is tasked with controlling and licensing of betting and gaming premises, recovery of tax on betting and gaming, and authorizing public lotteries.

Gross gambling revenue in Kenya is projected to rise to Sh2.2 billion up from Sh2 billion realized in 2014, according to the 2015 report by auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, which added that the revenues will rise to Sh2.9 billion in 2019 as more players enter the industry.

Sports betting has recently entered the industry and the players include Sportpesa, which in 2014, invested Sh400 million. Others are Oxygen 8, Betin, mCheza and Betway.

The betting function has been devolved but differences on roles the national and county governments should play in licensing the players  has delayed the transfer.