Members of the Senate on Thursday criticized the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i for the recent closure of 27 betting companies in the country. The senators argued that the rules and laws governing the companies should only be reviewed and regulated instead of resolving to withdraw licenses of the companies.
According to Kakamega County Senator Cleophas Malala, public policies should depend on the rule of law and not decisions by the Cabinet Secretaries.
"We do not want to live in a country that public policies depend on the CS sitting in the office instead of the rule of law,” Cleophas Malala stated.
He termed the decision of shutting down betting companies as an ill-advised one.
The Majority Leader in the Senate Kipchumba Murkomen, on the other hand, believes the power of Cabinet Secretaries should be exercised with responsibility.
“The minister's powers are donated by the Constitution and can be repealed. We should overhaul all gambling laws in the country. We need to understand whose responsibility is to licence and ensure the permit is protected,” Murkomen noted.
A good number of the senators seemed to agree that the closure of the betting companies and withdrawal of their licenses need to be reviewed and treated with caution.