The outlawed gambling machines businesses are resurfacing again in Kabarnet Town. 

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In May 2018, Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i Matiangi had directed in all regional and county security teams to seize unlicensed gambling machines in the entire country and destroy them in-situ. 

The CS emphatically stated that; "This business is destroying the lives of our children. Some of them are not going to school. Let us stop pretending. We must stand up and call sin by its name for the sake of our children." 

The same was executed in good faith countrywide and he issued a directive to the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Bureau of Standards not to allow the machines in the country. The same was also acted upon but immediately forgotten. 

Welcome to Baringo County, Kabarnet Town. The gambling machines are almost operating in every corner with a licence from the county government (though unverified if it is genuine licence). 

For the few areas we visited, the machines are talking to each other in the Chinese language; 'clik clik tangueeenng nyooong' while blinking their attractive and tempting colours of blue, pink and purple.

If indeed the government was committed to end this vice, then why do we still have the importation and operation of all these? Are we here in business to destroy our children? 

Nowadays, I see school children running to the machines during lunchtime and in the evening after school, first to try their luck and also bring more kids who are excited. I am yet to understand why!

The following areas among others have gambling machines; 

Next to City Clock Kabarnet 

There are welding garages for making metallic doors, windows etc. Inside there, you will find 15 gambling machines installed and operational, highly guarded by some drunk boys and men. 

At the Executive Kinyozi 

At the new Beirut Building, you will find 6 Machines operational and blinking like shit. Nobody mans the door. Go play and leave. 

At Kaprogonya Centre 

There are three machines in one shop which was previously a hotel. 

At Stadium Hotel Building 

Three rooms are dedicated to these businesses. Fully operational.

Almost  60 per cent of pubs in the town also has illegal gambling machines.

So who is fooling who? The government should be able to check back its policies and directives. 

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