The County Assembly of Murang’a has expressed concern over increasing insecurity in certain areas due to illegal gambling and betting machine operations.
The Assembly’s concerns came after an influx of gambling machines, stationed in various local markets, thus attracting many young people to spend most of their time betting.
Kiru Member of the County Assembly (MCA), Morris Thuku’s, motion revealed that the county’s insecurity, particularly shop burglary in Kiriaini town, is largely due to the proliferation of gambling machines.
“We recommend that traders operating gambling and betting premises illegally, be apprehended and their licenses revoked forthwith” said Thuku, adding that the government a few years ago banned gambling with the Assembly calling for stringent measures to stop the activities.
Kiru expressed concern over numerous studies revealing that gambling addiction leads to severe behavioral and social disorders, often, leading to criminal behavior. Whereas, Thuku’s House Motion calls for the County Government and Assembly to collaborate on enforcing gambling laws to reduce insecurity in the area.
“We are cognizant that existing statutes and policies on gambling aim at promoting responsible gaming for social progress and entertainment, as well as eradicate illegal gambling in Kenya” he added.
The MCAs urged the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Industrialization and Corporative, to liaise with the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), the County Commissioner’s Office and relevant stakeholders for a crackdown of all the gambling, betting and gaming premises in the County
Hence, Thuku further stated the CECM for Trade in consultation with the County Assembly should formulate a legislative proposal on Betting and Gambling in the County in efforts to try and curb this menace.
“The Assembly is yet to enact legislation on Betting and Gambling, as underpinned in the Constitution of Kenya 2010” said Thuku, adding that betting, casinos and other forms of gambling are devolved functions of county governments, under the Fourth Schedule Part (2) (4) (a) of the Constitution of Kenya.
Thus, the Notice of Motion on enforcement of gambling laws to curb insecurity in the County is set to be debated in the Assembly this week.