Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has poured cold water on efforts by Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i to end betting in the country.
This is after Matiang'i vowed to crack the whip on betting and gaming companies by laying down tough measures to regulate the business, which he noted has adverse effects on the economy.
Already, the Betting Control and Licensing Board has declined to renew operational licences of 19 betting companies in the ongoing vetting of casinos, lotteries and betting firms.
“We cannot be a gambling nation. We must live an honest life. Many youths end up frustrated when they fail in gambling and end up committing suicide," Matiang'i was quoted by Daily Nation.
However, Kuria has strongly defended betting, arguing that instead of government 'punishing' betting companies, it should embrace them since they were a major source of tax revenue, which can be used to support President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four agenda.
"By the way, you cannot stop betting, so if you cannot stop it make use of it. This year we might get 22 billion from betting going into healthcare," he said during AM Live segment on NTV, Tuesday.
Speaking during the same show, former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo disagreed with Kuria, noting betting was negatively affecting even school-going kids and ought to be banned.
"Betting is being accessed by 10-year-old kids, that’s not where we should be going, I congratulate Matiang’i. We ought to be socially responsible as a country," Midiwo said.