The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has imposed fines of Sh500,000 each on nine television stations, including Yahweh Media Services, for airing unlicensed gambling-related content in violation of national broadcasting regulations.
In a strongly worded statement, the CA gave the broadcasters 12 hours to cease airing the content or risk further punitive action, including potential revocation of their operating licences.
The enforcement follows a compliance audit conducted in May 2025, which revealed ongoing breaches despite multiple warnings. A sector-wide notice issued on 13 March, followed by a general advisory on 23 April, had instructed all broadcasters to suspend the promotion of gambling-related programming.
Good to know: The CA has pledged to maintain continuous monitoring of broadcasts to ensure regulatory compliance across the sector.
The crackdown comes in the wake of an NTV investigative exposé, Sacred Swindle: Inside the Gospel of Greed on Kenya’s Airwaves, which exposed the use of religious-themed shows to disguise gambling schemes. The report uncovered instances where pastors claimed to earn up to Sh700,000 per day through “blessings” tied to prize raffles—raising significant concerns about consumer protection and ethical broadcasting standards.
Citing Section 83A of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, the CA warned that any broadcaster found in repeated breach of directives would face escalating sanctions.
“Even with the directives to suspend advertising of all gambling-related content, a review by the Authority in the second week of May 2025 revealed the continued airing of such prohibited content by some broadcasters, in blatant disregard of sector laws and directives,” the Authority stated.
The fines come amid growing concern over gambling proliferation in Kenya. Earlier this year, the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) imposed a 30-day nationwide ban on gambling advertising, citing rising addiction rates and the need for regulatory reassessment.
As the gambling sector continues to expand rapidly in Kenya, both regulators and civil society groups are intensifying efforts to protect vulnerable consumers, especially youth, from exploitative or misleading content.
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