Administration police officers display Chinese betting machines. [Photo/Standard Media]
A recent directive by the Interior Ministry Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiang’i to County Commissioners, Chiefs, and their Assistants to weed out all gambling machines in the country is starting to bear fruits with a net of more than 20 machines in Bureti Sub County.
Confirming the confiscation of the betting machines on Thursday, Bureti Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Timothy Nderitu said that more than 20 machines had been confiscated in the last two days and five arrests made and taken to Sotik law courts.
Nderitu said that Chiefs and their assistants have no alternative but to ensure that no single machine operates within the areas of jurisdictions is found to be in operation else they will be personally held responsible.
Speaking in his office the DCC said they have to implement the directive and ensure that the gadgets were entirely removed and those arrested be prosecuted according to the law.
Nderitu at the same time issued a stern warning to chiefs and their assistants against colluding with the unscrupulous individuals who have installed the gadgets in each and every other market center and kiosk.
The DCC also said that the crackdown on gaming machines will be carried out alongside the fight against illicit brews which hundreds of liters of the brews have netted and brewing apparatus confiscated in Roret Cheborge and Bureti divisions in the last one month.
Meanwhile, Bureti Legislator, Japheth Mutai has at the same time, appealed to the residents of Bureti to engage in gainful business and desist from gambling which they do not only lose money to the gamblers but takes much of their time.
Mutai who on Wednesday spoke at a public participation exercise on Constituency Development Fund challenged the youth to enroll en mass at technical training colleges especially at Bureti Technical Institute (TTI) at Tititab Moita in Cheplanget location.
He noted that technical courses were now paying higher than white collar jobs and that the youth especially the recent KCSE graduates who scored C- and below can enroll in the courses and make a good living.