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{
    "id": 933168,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/933168/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 388,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon (Prof.) Jacqueline Oduol",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13514,
        "legal_name": "Jacquiline Adhiambo Oduol",
        "slug": "jacqueline-adhiambo-oduol"
    },
    "content": "Apart from ensuring that we broadly and very specifically look at the regulations that address the problems that we have, we are concerned about protecting the youth and the poor. For people who live below the poverty line or those who do not have a proper means of income, it appeared as if the only thing that was left for them was gambling. It is extremely important that we have a proper framework that will protect the interests of our children and the poor. We are also ensuring that we task betting companies. We specifically recognise that there are betting companies which, after luring our innocent citizens some of whom even take monies that were not theirs which they borrowed, in the event that they win large amounts of money, would not compensate them. Because we did not have a proper regulatory framework in place, they were getting away with it. We would also like to ensure that we do not have a situation where the lack of clarity of specific roles and responsibilities between the two levels of governments lead to a situation where those who are engaged in this activity are not clearly monitored. We have clearly delineated roles for the national Government and county governments. It is necessary that county governments know that they are the ones to enforce compliance of the Act and other applicable laws and, therefore, protect the citizens at that level. County governments would issue permits for premises. During public participation, we were told that there were cases where you would find that personal premises, rooms in homesteads or some insecure areas were being used for this activity. I support this Bill because we must recognise that the culture of gaming that we are accepting is totally destructive because it touches the core of our most vulnerable, poor, children and youth. It is destructive because it benefits those outside Kenya and exploits the soul of our country. It is destructive because it seems to be a free-for-all and can be engaged by anyone at any level without any repercussions or consequences. It is also destructive because we do not have a clear mechanism with which to engage in real-time monitoring and looking at online gaming that seems to be at the heart of our country. I support this Bill because it is timely and necessary. If we do not address this issue, we will find that we no longer have a country because our children will get addicted and lose money. We cannot afford the breakdown of relationships between children and their parents or between spouses. I urge the Members of the House to take this with the seriousness that it calls for. I support the Bill."
}