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{
    "id": 1402172,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1402172/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 241,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Nyamu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Gambling Control Bill (National Assembly Bills No.70 of 2023). If we do not condemn and regulate gambling, it might become a menace in our society. Statistics show that Kenya is among nations with the highest number of its young population involved in gambling. We have 89 per cent of our young people gambling, compared to Nigeria at 78 per cent and 74 per cent in South Africa. This Bill is not only timely, but also well thought out. There is a requirement that directors and shareholders have to be Kenyan. I disagree with Sen. Sifuna, who opposes this provision, because we will have a situation where foreigners come to the country, make their investments and carry all the profits back to their countries. If we have Kenyan shareholding, at least some of those proceeds will remain here. We had an example of KFC where they used to import everything, including potatoes, when we have industrious farmers in Kenya, particularly in Nyandarua County where we have good quality potatoes. It was not until we protested on social media that KFC was bound to buy potatoes from Kenya. You can now feel the difference between the previous French fries at KFC and what they have now. A provision of 15 per cent tax from the proceeds of gambling is excellent because we want to generate revenue for our country. Another provision requires that every company carrying out this business should have a license. It should also not involve itself in cheap products to protect our children because they can easily afford cheap products of gambling. There is also another provision where companies will be curtailed from running advertisements during primetime hours when our young people are most active. Another provision is that these companies should have the social responsibility to ensure that our young people are protected. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I support, I challenge our law enforcement agencies to be patriotic and ensure that these laws are enforced on the ground, so that we do not expose our young people to a practice that ends up being a menace at the expense of our future."
}