As a standoff between Betting Control and Licensing Board(BCLB) and betting companies continue to escalate; Kenyans have expressed mixed reactions over the matter.
Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino has faulted Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi in what he says is 'waging war for personal gain.'
In a Facebook post on Saturday, he has argued that the Matiang'i was settling personal scores with Kenyan betting firms.
"Kenyans were led to believe that this was a moral campaign by Mr.Matiangi but recent events clearly show that this was a personal war targeting certain business for his own selfish personal gain," claimed the Embakasi East MP.
BCLB has insisted that 19 firms are yet to meet undisclosed requirements that will see their licences renewed. Despite a court order stopping the state from halting operations of Sportpesa and Betin, customers were on Friday amused after Safaricom was ordered to stop loading deposits to respective customer accounts.
Babu notes that the Interior CS relies on the Betting Licensing and control Act which he argues is overtaken by time calling for a constitutional review to make room for new changes.
He adds that the suspension affects mainstream betting firms which have employed thousands of Kenyans.
He has also alleged that the crackdown has been unfair noting a betting firm linked to his friend was spared.
"I call upon the EACC and the DCI to investigate this clear and blatant abuse of office by CS Matiang'i," he charged.