Deputy President William Ruto (left) hands over a trophy to the overall winner of the SOYA awards Samuel Muchai at the KICC on Wednesday.
The DP said the government will inject Sh500 million to support sporting activities in the country. [Photo/ kbc.co.ke]The government will inject Sh500 million to support sporting activities in the country following the withdrawal of betting firm SportPesa from doing the same, deputy president William Ruto has said.Speaking during the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) awards gala in Nairobi on Wednesday, Ruto said the government is fully committed to improving sporting activities in the country adding that the exit of the gambling giants should be no cause for alarm."The government will allocate Sh500 million to fund sporting activities after betting firm SportPesa pulled out of sports sponsorship in the country protesting new regulations passed by Parliament to control gambling," Ruto said.The Deputy President added that the government would not go back on the 35 percent tax imposition on the betting industry, adding that payment of taxes was not a negotiable affair."The government has stepped in to fill the gaps left by the firm which has pulled out of sports sponsorship over taxation issues. Payment of taxes is not optional but a must and not negotiable. I want to encourage all the other sponsors to continue supporting sports activities," he added.Early this month, SportPesa announced the withdrawal of their financial aid to various sporting activities in the country among them football and rugby with the biggest casualties being the Kenya 7s rugby team and football giants Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.