NAIROBI, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan authorities are set to deport 17 directors involved in illegal betting business after cancelling their operating licenses as part of efforts to curb the craze across the country.
Fred Matiang'i, cabinet secretary of Kenya's Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, signed the deportation orders on Tuesday and the directors are expected to leave the country immediately.
Sources said the majority of the deportees accused of violating work permits and engaging in business not stated on the application are from Europe.
Firms whose licenses have not been renewed, or which have been told to fulfill certain conditions in order to be allowed to operate, include betting giant SportPesa, Betin, Betway, Betpawa, Premierebet, Lucky 2 U, 1XBet, Dafa Bet, Atari Gaming, PalmsBet, Betboss and Mozzarbet.
The firms have denied any wrongdoing and have maintained that they have met regulatory requirements amid the push and pull with the government.
The deportation came just a day after the Central Bank of Kenya wrote to banks informing them that 27 bookmakers and five public lottery firms had not had their licenses renewed.
The government recently ordered all betting firms to apply afresh for operating licenses, starting in July, in a move to net firms that have been evading taxes despite reaping billions of shillings in profits.
Matiang'i said majority of the Kenyan youth, many of them jobless, were borrowing multiple times from the about 50 digital lending platforms to bet.
Up to 76 percent of Kenyan youths aged 35 and below are engaged in some betting. Of the 76 percent, 54 percent are from poor backgrounds.
