The government has deported 17 foreigners who were illegally involved in the betting industry, after Interior CS Fred Matiang’i made the plan known in a betting stakeholders forum. The 17 foreigners are of Chinese, South Korean, Bulgarian, Serbian, Spanish, Italian, Danish and Turkish nationalities. The move affirms the government’s commitment to regulate the betting industry and the commitment made by CS Matiang’i.
On Monday, the CS said he was ready to sign the deportation letters so that those who are affected can leave the country. He had pointed out that foreigners came into Kenya and took permits to do different stuff but ended up in the gambling sector, “If you come here and apply for a permit to do one thing and then you end up doing another, surely you are breaking the law and you don’t expect that we’ll be smiling with you and persuading you just because we want to be members of a respectable community of nations,” he said.
He was quick to point out, however, that the Kenyan government is open to holding discussions with investors in the betting industry and that the stringent measures to streamline the sector are for the benefit of the country, “Those who are genuinely interested in investment, those who are genuinely making a contribution to our economy and country, you deserve and should get our commitment and support.”