Football Federation of Kenya (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa has weighed in on the ongoing row between the government and betting companies.
Addressing members of the press on the matter on Monday at his office, Mwendwa said that while he understood that there are issues around the regulation that the government needed to iron out, the game was in need of money.
He contended that about 70 per cent of funding for football emanates from betting firms.
"While I understand that there are issues with the government which are for the government to deal with around regulation, around betting, I just want to say that the game needs the money and today 70 per cent of investment in football around the world is done by betting companies, " the FKF boss said. (Video 3:01-3:23)
Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i has insisted that betting firms that do not meet the standards of operations will not be allowed to conduct business.
Sport Pesa, one of the companies at the centre of the row and whose licence has been suspended, has pumped money in the country's premier league and has been supporting a number of local teams.
About a week ago, the government ordered the deportation of 17 betting firms bosses as the row escalated.