A group of politicians, led by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, have decried the ongoing tussle between the government and a number of betting companies.

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Addressing the media on Tuesday at a Nairobi hotel, Senator Malala called on the government to allow the betting firms whose licenses have been suspended, to resume operations in the interest of the economy.

He, however, called for a swift investigation to be carried out into issues that led to the suspension.

"We implore the government, through the Cabinet Secretary of Interior and the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury to look at the interest of the economy and other stakeholders and allow the said companies to operate pending the completion of the investigations,"Senator Malala said

'We are in support for the government to allow the said companies to operate for obvious reasons which include but not limited to; sponsorship of sports, culture and arts related activities and universal healthcare of the people of Kenya," he added.

In their statement, the leaders contended that the country's economy would suffer as they touted the investments that the companies had made in sports and culture.

Malala claimed the government is losing approximately one billion shillings every month in tax revenue from the betting firms.

The Cabinet Secretary of Interior and Coordination of National Government Fred Matiang'i said the companies would have to meet their tax obligations in full and operate in accordance with the country's regulations governing betting activities.

Among the betting firms embroiled in the tussle is Sportpesa which decried the suspension as unfair, saying that it had met its tax obligations.