BY KORIR JUMA,NAIROBI,16TH JULY 2019-Plans are underway to 17 directors of gambling companies deported .The government plans to deport the directors for operating betting firms illegally.This comes as e crackdown on the betting culture in the country intensifies.
According to Interior ministry spokeswoman , Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi has already signed deportation orders for the officials, mainly from Eastern Europe who are accused of violating their work permits to engage in gambling.
“Most East Europeans violated work permits by engaging in business not stated on applications,” Wangui Muchiri said, “The deportation orders are immediate.”
In the recent days ,the government has intensified a crackdown on gambling in the country, and has even ordered mobile telecommunication companies to shut down short codes operated by betting firms, sparking outrage from the firms which have already filed a challenge in court.
Most betting firms in the country among them Sportpesa and Betin of having failed to pay taxes and violating several other regulations.
Other firms affected include Lucky 2 U, Asian Betting and Gaming Ltd, Kick Off Sports Bar Ltd, Mozzarbet Kenya Ltd, Atari Gaming Ltd, Millionnaire Sports Bet Ltd, Premier Betting Ltd, Advanced Innovation Ltd, Sekunde Technologies among others.
It is estimated that the industry turns around Sh200billion annually.
Affected firms however insist they are being targeted unfairly while claiming that they pay requisite taxes as required by law. They also claim to have fulfilled all legal requirements including having operational licences.
