CS Kabogo Announces Major Crackdown on Betting Firms Over Data Protection Violations
Information, Communication and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has announced a fresh government crackdown targeting betting and gaming companies operating illegally or without proper data protection compliance in Kenya.
The warning comes amid growing concern over the rapid expansion of online gambling and the handling of sensitive personal data belonging to millions of Kenyans, particularly young people increasingly exposed to betting promotions across digital platforms.
Appearing before the Senate plenary on Wednesday, May 13, Kabogo revealed that a majority of betting firms identified by the government had failed to comply fully with data protection laws despite operating in one of the country’s fastest-growing digital sectors.
Quoting records from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, the CS disclosed that only a small fraction of the 224 gaming and betting companies identified were fully compliant.
“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 five hold expired certificates,” Kabogo told senators.
The ICT CS warned that the government would now move aggressively against non-compliant operators through a coordinated enforcement operation involving the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB).
“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 further disclosed that gambling and lottery promotions accounted for the highest number of regulatory enforcement actions undertaken during the review period, underlining the scale of the government’s concerns.
“The largest single category of enforcement action concerns gambling and lottery promotions, accounting for approximately 61 per cent of the recorded actions in the period,” he stated.
The remarks come at a time when Kenya continues to witness an explosion in online betting activity, with lawmakers and regulators increasingly raising concerns about addiction, underage gambling, irresponsible advertising, and misuse of personal data.
The CS said the trend reflected the growing exposure of Kenyans — especially young people — to betting-related advertisements appearing on television, radio, websites, and social media platforms.
At the same time, Kabogo raised alarm over the circulation of vulgar and inappropriate content aired during watershed hours before being amplified online through social media channels.
According to the CS, the development has created a growing overlap between traditional broadcasting and digital platforms, forcing regulators to adopt what he described as a “platform-agnostic enforcement” approach to ensure accountability across all media channels.
Kabogo also accused some media houses of repeatedly violating regulatory standards, revealing that the government was now considering tougher and more systemic interventions rather than isolated penalties.
Among the measures under consideration are mandatory compliance training programmes for media houses as well as legislative amendments aimed at tightening oversight of gambling advertisements and digital promotions.
The latest announcement signals what could become one of the government’s most aggressive regulatory campaigns targeting Kenya’s booming betting industry, which has faced mounting scrutiny over its influence on youth and its handling of consumer data.
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