Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has firmly denied allegations linking him to gambling proceeds, following social media reports suggesting he benefited from betting winnings.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Cheruiyot dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
“Stop this silly smear campaign. I do not even know how to bet, let alone have an interest in a betting firm or related business. Neither directly nor by proxy,” he stated.
His response comes amid rising concerns over the impact of betting on Kenyan youth, with calls for tighter regulation of the fast-growing industry.
The number of licensed betting firms in Kenya has surged to over 200—more than double the figure in 2021.
The betting industry is heavily taxed, facing a 15% excise duty on stakes, a 20% withholding tax on net wins, and a 50% tax on gross gaming revenue, in addition to standard corporate taxes and employee deductions.
The sector employs over 10,000 people directly and supports approximately 500,000 others indirectly.
In March, the Kenya Revenue Authority reported collecting KSh12.47 billion in taxes from betting companies in the eight months leading up to February 2025.
Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) Chairperson Jane Makau emphasized the regulator’s commitment to ensuring firms comply with all regulations, with the next licensing window opening on May 1.
A 2022 study by the National Library of Medicine reported 18 gambling-related suicides across the East African Community between 2017 and 2022, 10 of which occurred in Kenya.
