Kenyan Broadcasters on the Brink—CA Orders Immediate Crackdown on Gambling Content!
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has fired off an explosive ultimatum to all radio and TV stations: clean up your gambling content—or lose your license!
A letter signed by Director General David Mugonyi and dated April 23, 2025, has gone viral after it issued a 14-day deadline to purge betting, lottery, and gambling promotions from the airwaves. Failure to comply could lead to total shutdowns of offending stations.
“You’ve got 14 days. Violators risk full license revocation under the Kenya Information and Communications Act,” the CA warned in what many are calling one of the most aggressive regulatory crackdowns in recent history.
The Authority didn’t hold back—labeling the surge in gambling content not only excessive but also a blatant violation of broadcasting rules. According to the explosive memo, the CA has been bombarded with consumer complaints about the onslaught of betting ads flooding both radio and TV.
“The Authority is alarmed by the growing number of complaints about gambling and betting programs aired across FM and TV stations,” the letter reads.
And that’s not all.
The CA made it crystal clear: broadcasters are abusing their licenses by airing more gambling-related programming than what’s legally allowed. Mugonyi emphasized that this is a direct violation of license conditions and the national Programming Code—provisions meant to protect the public from misleading and potentially harmful content.
“Many stations are going overboard with betting content. This goes against the law, the code, and your license conditions. Enough is enough,” Mugonyi warned.
The bombshell announcement came hot on the heels of another hard-hitting declaration from Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, who revealed that the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) is working closely with Parliament to tighten gambling laws—with special focus on the exploding online betting industry.
“Gambling addiction is spiraling out of control. It’s ruining lives, leading to job losses, property forfeiture, and even deaths,” Mwaura stated during a press briefing on the same day.
With the Gambling Control Bill, 2023 now gaining momentum, it’s clear the government is going all in to fight what it sees as a national crisis.
For broadcasters? The message is loud and clear: Either drop the betting promos—or prepare for a broadcasting blackout. The countdown has officially begun.
