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{
    "id": 1348026,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1348026/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 160,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marsabit County, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Naomi Waqo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "was passed a long time ago. I believe that many of the people who are here were not born at that time. The Bill seeks to institute a comprehensive legislative framework for the regulation of gambling in Kenya with specific emphasis on incorporating safe gambling principles within the sector. Additionally, the Bill seeks to establish a gambling regulatory authority, which shall bear the responsibility of licensing and regulating the gambling sector. As I said yesterday on lottery, we have a lot of challenges with gambling. Many people have ruined their lives because of wasting their money anticipating to be rich the next day from gambling. In a way, gambling has made people lazy. They believe that they will wake up in the morning to gamble and get rich without working hard. So, this Bill will help us put in place all the measures and the legislative framework that is needed to guide and regulate gambling in Kenya, have gambling principles within the sector and have the gambling regulatory authority that will regularise and investigate gambling, and act appropriately in case of non- compliance by any actor in the sector. The Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture, in its consideration of the Bill, noted the inadequacy of the current legal and institutional framework in addressing modern challenges within the gambling sector. Additionally, the Committee expressed concerns about the organisation enforcement and consumer protection aspects of gambling activities in Kenya. Therefore, the Committee acknowledges the need for comprehensive overhaul of the legal framework relating to gambling in Kenya. Those who have been practising gambling in our country have been exposed in many ways and they have not had any protection. Many of them have lost their property and some were not given their due rights. That is the reason why many of the people who have been in gambling have been frustrated and some have ended up in depression and many other bad things. Many of them keep complaining about the practice. If this Bill is passed, their protection will be assured. The people who own gambling companies will live within the provision of the law and give people their due rights. Hon. Speaker, the Bill recognises that gambling is a shared function between the national Government and the county governments. It is a shared function because most of the people who practise gambling are within our counties at the grassroots level. This Bill will help our country because it supports the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution. The Bill, therefore, assigns specific roles to the two levels of government and proposes concurrent regulatory functions for the national and county governments as concerns gambling activity. The Bill also seeks to provide a framework for the regulation and control of gambling activity. Once we do that, we will have protected the interest of the people who continue to gamble and invest in this particular thing. Even though most of us are not for the idea, a majority of Kenyans are practising gambling. Some of them believe that it is the only way through which they can earn a living. Therefore, the only honourable thing that this House can do is to pass this Bill so that they can be well protected. The Bill expressly provides for gambling activities that shall be legal in Kenya while prohibiting illegal forms of gambling. Others have taken advantage by doing illegal business. This Bill seeks to protect those who have invested, registered and have licences, so that others will not be practising illegally. The Bill will also promote the development of a responsible gambling industry. In the past, some people have been cheating and conning Kenyans in different ways but this Bill will bring that to an end. It will also minimise social harm associated with gambling because Kenyans will be given enough education. Lastly, the Bill provides for establishment of mechanisms for the resolution of disputes relating to gambling. Many people have had conflicts. For us to have peaceful coexistence The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
}