Mainstream media such as television and radio stations running live lotteries and betting games face tougher regulations after members of parliament today called for more sanctions.
Lawmakers have decried lottery and betting calling them syndicates aimed at hoodwinking vulnerable Kenyans.
The members of the upper house regretted that there are no stringent regulatory sanctions by the government to reign in on the companies they said are running lotteries on live television and radio program.
While making his contributions, Nyeri town Member of parliament, Duncan Mathenge wants the government to move with speed and stop lotteries being run by media stations live on air.
“The government must regulate the running of lotteries and any other forms of betting disguised as polls, contests and other SMS-based gaming by media houses,” he said.
The uncontrolled lotteries had become largely unethical with promises of big wins while collecting millions of shillings from Kenyans.
Read: Kenya’s Betting Industry Revenues Fall by Kshs 240 billion
In addition, Nominated MP Dorothy Ikiara said programs had made people poorer through enticements to participate in ‘immoral and unethical’ lotteries.
“Families are being enticed to get rich quickly and has become an income-generating activity for unscrupulous people in this country,” she said.
The legislator notes that the practices which are popular in most vernacular radio stations across the country were destroying the future of the young people.
“It is immoral for people to make money by killing the future of our children and destroying families,” she said.
Contrary, Catherine Omanyo, Busia woman representative opposed the motion saying the betting institutions are actively participating in helping the vulnerable in society through many social initiatives.
The MP said the motion was ill-advised to target certain media personalities for selfish interests, insisting that there are existing laws governing the industry.
“I don’t think anybody puts a gun on anyone’s head to gamble, it is a choice, the thing here is discipline,” she said.
If a person wants to become a millionaire and decides to bet and doesn’t win, do we blame the promoter or the gamer?
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