Peter Maina Karimi Officially Appointed Head Of Kenya’s Gambling Regulator

The CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), appointed in February 2026, has now assumed office. Among his priorities, Peter Maina Karimi highlighted stricter enforcement against illegal gambling and stepped-up oversight of responsible gambling.

Appointment and taking office at the GRA

Karimi was appointed to the CEO position back in February 2026, but has only now formally taken office. His arrival coincided with a major institutional overhaul: the former Betting Control and Licensing Board was dissolved and replaced by the newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority. In effect, this amounts to a full reset of the country’s gambling oversight system.

During the transition period, Peter Mbugi served as acting head. His interim leadership was due precisely to the institutional reorganization and the need to ensure continuity of the regulator’s work until a permanent head was confirmed. With Karimi’s arrival, the transition phase has officially ended.

Tightening enforcement on all fronts

Upon taking office, Karimi stated his intention to step up the fight against illegal operators and strengthen responsible gambling mechanisms. According to him, the regulator plans to pursue several lines of action, each with its own set of measures.

Among the key areas, he singled out advertising monitoring, countering unlicensed platforms, protecting minors, and public education efforts.

Advertising to face tighter scrutiny

One of the first steps will be stricter oversight of gambling advertising. The GRA plans to introduce restrictions under which betting ads will be allowed only during late-night broadcast hours. This practice is already used in a number of European jurisdictions and is aimed at reducing the impact of advertising messages on vulnerable groups.

The regulator intends not just to announce the restrictions, but to enforce them through active monitoring of advertising channels.

Illegal sites face blocking

A separate target for the GRA will be unregistered gambling sites operating in Kenya. Karimi emphasized that unlicensed operators undermine compliance standards and reduce the level of player protection. In the event of disputes, users of such platforms are effectively left without a mechanism to protect their rights.

And yet Kenyans often choose offshore sites because these platforms offer more attractive terms and bonuses. For example, residents of Kenya prefer major international iGaming brands. Interestingly, the lists of these brands are remarkably similar to those that can be found in Australia or New Zealand. Industry experts we spoke to ahead of preparing the article told us about this. They showed us online casinos where players can get the popular in Australia free spins no deposit casino offers, and then provided a similar list for Kenya. We really found quite a few overlaps.

However, Kenyans’ approach to gambling differs from that of wealthier Australians. For them, such an offer looks like an opportunity to improve their financial situation. In Kenya, quite a lot of people live below the poverty line, so they view gambling as a chance at a better life. Such people are at higher risk, so the regulator is taking a range of measures to protect them.

Among other things, it plans to step up efforts to identify and shut down such resources, using both technical tools and interagency cooperation.

No minors allowed — violators face shutdown

Kenyan law unequivocally prohibits anyone under 18 from participating in gambling. Karimi warned that operators that allow minors to open accounts will face immediate sanctions, up to and including the full shutdown of the platform. The GRA will exercise control through licensing procedures and regular compliance checks.

Special attention is planned for the online segment, where age verification remains one of the system’s weakest links.

Prevention through partnerships with industry and government

In addition to punitive measures, the GRA is placing emphasis on education and awareness work. The regulator intends to launch joint initiatives with market participants and government bodies. Their goal:

• raising awareness among the public about the risks associated with gambling;
• fostering a culture of responsible gambling;
• creating a more transparent and “compliant” market environment.

Such cooperation, in Karimi’s view, should complement the regulator’s oversight function and reduce the industry’s social costs.

Market grows as regulator prepares new tools

The context in which the GRA is beginning full-fledged work is telling. Kenya’s gambling industry has seen rapid growth, especially in the online betting segment. The regulator intends to use the powers granted under the new law to strengthen licensing procedures, ensure operators’ compliance with requirements, and curb the illegal segment.

Under Karimi, the GRA is preparing to introduce additional regulatory measures within the updated legal framework, which could significantly change the rules of the game for all participants in the Kenyan market.