The government has ordered the immediate shutdown of 23 television stations, including Kameme TV, for violating betting advertisement regulations. The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) requested the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to close the listed stations due to violations of a 30-day suspension on betting advertisements.

BCLB director Peter Mbugi stated that several media outlets continued to run unauthorized betting promotions, displaying mobile money payment details like till numbers and pay bill numbers on-screen, and urging viewers to participate in betting promotions for a chance to win. The BCLB has been actively monitoring TV and radio broadcasts and identified specific TV stations engaging in these unauthorized activities.

Mbugi emphasized the need for immediate action against the non-compliant media houses. The 23 TV stations listed for shutdown include Yahweh, JCDH, Swahili, Deliverance, Ngumbao, Aviation, Nyumba Itu, Venus, Michezo, Humble Touch, Massa, Goodwill, Moja One, Repower, Naivera, Happy, Tohanchane, Favour Life, Wave Time, Jawabu, Maajabu, Madhabahu, and Kameme.

The BCLB has also written to Safaricom, requesting the suspension of all associated till and pay bill numbers linked to the promotions. The board has copied the letter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to bring the promoters to book. This action follows a previous shutdown of several unlicensed betting sites in a crackdown on illegal gambling activities.

On April 29, the BCLB suspended all gambling advertisements and promotional content across all media platforms for 30 days due to concerns over the proliferation of gambling and misleading advertisements. BCLB Chairperson Jane Mwikali highlighted the false portrayal of gambling as a legitimate investment opportunity and a shortcut to wealth. The ban was also prompted by the airing of betting ads during watershed hours, exposing minors to gambling content and increasing cases of addiction. The BCLB ordered an immediate halt to all gambling-related advertisements and promotions across all media channels.