Revealed: How Corrupt MPs Scheme To Rip Off Millions From Betting Companies As They Fight For Committee Slots

Leading betting firms in Kenya

Kenya being Kenya and MPs being predictable, it doesn’t come as an astonishment that the new bill in parliament is the new lady everybody is trying to put a plank of wood on their back. The National Treasury Bill, Betting, Lotteries and Gaming (Amendment) Act signed by Leader of Majority Aden Duale was published and submitted to the departmental committee on Finance.

An 11-member committee was initially constituted for the committee to inquire into the activities of the scores of the betting and gambling firms with particular emphasis on tax compliance, the disclosure of information and management of proceeds.

These companies have been used as the new harbour for money laundering. Owned by Bulgarian, Italian Mafias involved in international Credit Card fraud in the case of Sportpesa, drug trafficking and other dirty deals. These mafias lias with corrupt and money hungry leaders both in the government and opposition. From Mcheza to Sportpesa there are many ghost owners embedded in the government and opposition.

It’s, therefore, unsurprising that there’s a motion meant to regulate the running of the firms. It should be noted earlier that these MPs don’t have in mind the families broken by gambling, psychological torture it has reigned on addicted Kenyans but their interests.

Dominance by Sportpesa amongst the other main lines is one of the leading causes of concern to the politicians who now want fair play since they’re shareholders in this fraud scheme. Duale for example according to Intel reaching Kenya Insights is fighting for the interest of a notorious senior jubilee politician who happens to be holding stakes in Mcheza a close rival of Sportpesa. Sportpesa, Elibet, Betway, Betin Kenya and Mcheza are just but a few of the leading companies championing the nearly Sh3B annual turnover industry.

The 11-member committee co-chaired by Leader of Majority Aden Duale and Leader of Minority Jakoyo Midiwo to investigate the sector, which has come under the spotlight for harbouring tax cheats and money launderers. The team comprises Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi), Thomas Mwadeghu (Wundanyi), Samuel Gichigi (Kipipiri), Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi) and Kanini Kega (Kieni). Others are Soipan Tuya (Narok), Dorcas Kedogo (Vihiga), Mary Keraa (Kisii) and Daniel Maanzo (Makueni). The membership of the committee has now risen from 11 to 13 after legislators Asman Kamama and Badi Twalib were included.

Francis Nyenze Minority leader has been listed to co-chair with Duale in the 13-member committee. Nyenze in the fight for the big position has traded words with Duale,”We have never seen the Majority leader in any committee. What is this that is making him and other House leaders want to put their names on this panel? I know gambling has a lot of money and my gut feeling is telling me to smell a rat,” said Nyenze.

It’s ironical, dampening when people like Nyenze who was the chairman of the task force that in 2009 investigated the collapse of pyramid schemes where Kenyans were duped into losing billions of shillings. The Pyramid Scheme report has never seen a light of the day neither has the duped Kenyans been paid back their billions lost. What miracle will he be doing other than using the position to add more figures to his account?

Every MP and their families now want to be included in the cash cow committee for dry milking, Betting firms and other interest groups, we established, are pushing for reconstitution of the parliamentary select committee to have friendly MPs sit on the team.

The companies know the nature of the game, and now that most of the MPs are broke and want campaigns money, their decision will be easily manipulated. This the time you’ll hear of funny retreats and these MPs flown outside the country to negotiate deals. Hope Kenyans haven’t forgotten about the BAT and Mastermind Tobacco saga where MPs were compromised, paid heavily, treated to luxury retreats where they enjoyed with their concubines.

Knowing all these factors in play and the calculations from both parties, Kenya Insights through our moles in parliament and Kenyans of goodwill, we’re planting our cameras and eyes on these corrupt legislators and on the companies stashing their briefcases to pay off the baying MPs. However much you hide believe we will know don’t ask how just know it’s a promise.

Email me with tips on this saga or any other scandal that needs highlighting and i will look into it. Address ([email protected])