Kenya Orders Safaricom to Shut Down Betting Payments

Kenya has ordered Safaricom, the leading telecommunications company in Kenya, to stop processing payments for sports betting companies.

Liti Wambua, Acting Director of the Betting Control and Licensing Board, told Safaricom that the licences for all 27 betting firms had not been renewed.

Wambua said that such payments should stop pending the outcome of an ongoing inquiry about their suitability to operate in the country.

“Consequently, we request you to suspend their pay-bills and short codes until otherwise advised,” Wambua said.

Safaricom said that it required time to carry out the order since abrupt implementation would result in shutting millions of users out of funds already deposited in the gaming wallets of the various betting firms.

“The directive by the board will impact over 12 million customers,” Safaricom said.