Kabogo Orders Crackdown on Betting Firms Over Data Breaches in Kenya
Information, Communication, and Technology Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has announced a crackdown on the betting and gaming sector. The move follows reports revealing widespread compliance failures among hundreds of companies tasked with handling the personal data of Kenyan citizens.
During a Senate plenary session on Wednesday, May 13, the CS highlighted a stark disconnect between the rapid expansion of the gambling industry and its adherence to legal safeguards. He disclosed that despite the industry’s massive footprint, only a small fraction of operators have met the necessary data protection standards.
Statistics from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner paint a troubling picture of the current landscape. Kabogo noted that of the 224 gaming and betting firms currently operating, only 15 maintain full registration. Another 13 companies are only partially registered, while five others continue to process data using expired certificates, leaving the vast majority of the industry in breach of regulatory requirements.
“On gambling exposure, the data from the office of the data protection commissioner is striking. Of 224 gaming and betting firms identified by the office, only 15 are fully registered, 13 are partially registered, and 5 hold expired certificates,” Kabogo told senators.
The government plans to launch an aggressive, coordinated operation to bring these firms to heel. This enforcement push will unite the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) to target non-compliant businesses directly.
“Action needs to be taken on this end, and the ministry is engaging the office of the data protection commissioner and the gambling and licensing control board on a coordinated enforcement push, and the ministry will report progress to the Senate as it comes on,” he added.
Kabogo also noted that the gambling sector has become the primary focus of government disciplinary measures. During the current review period, gambling and lottery promotions triggered more state intervention than any other category.
“The largest single category of enforcement action concerns gambling and lottery promotions, accounting for approximately 61 percent of the recorded actions in the period,” he stated.
The Cabinet Secretary noted that these trends highlight the increasing exposure of Kenyans, especially the youth, to pervasive betting content and advertisements across multiple digital and traditional platforms.
Beyond gambling, Kabogo expressed serious concern regarding the broadcast of vulgar content during watershed hours, the time when children are most likely to be watching. He pointed out that this inappropriate material often migrates from television to social media, gaining a second life online. This shift illustrates a growing overlap between traditional broadcasting and digital spaces, which the CS argues requires a new approach he calls “platform-agnostic enforcement.”
The government is also losing patience with media outlets that ignore existing rules. Kabogo revealed that several media houses have become repeat offenders, leading the ministry to move away from small, isolated fines in favor of tougher, systemic consequences.
To address these lapses, the government is considering mandatory compliance training for media practitioners and pursuing legislative changes to strictly regulate how gambling is promoted to the public.
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