Kenyan Broadcasters Fined for Airing Unlicensed Gambling Content Despite Regulatory Ban
Nine Kenyan television stations, including Yahweh Media Services, have been fined KSh 500,000 ($3,800) each by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) for violating national regulations on gambling advertising. The enforcement action follows repeated warnings and comes with a final 12-hour deadline to cease broadcasting unlicensed gambling content or risk stricter penalties, including possible revocation of broadcasting licences.
Repeat Violations Trigger Fines
The penalties follow a compliance review carried out by the CA in May 2025, which found that several stations were still promoting gambling-related material in defiance of earlier directives. Two official notices had been issued prior to the review: a sector-wide directive on 13 March and a general advisory on 23 April instructing all broadcasters to suspend gambling promotions.
“Even with the directives to suspend advertising of all gambling-related content, a review by the Authority in the second week of May 2025 revealed the continued airing of such prohibited content by some broadcasters, in blatant disregard of sector laws and directives,” the CA said in a public statement.
Religious Broadcasters Under Scrutiny
Much of the scrutiny has centred on religious-themed programming. The issue gained national attention after an investigative report by NTV, Sacred Swindle: Inside the Gospel of Greed on Kenya’s Airwaves, exposed how some religious broadcasters were embedding gambling promotions into spiritual content. The report revealed that prize competitions and raffles were being disguised as faith-based blessings, with one pastor reportedly earning up to KSh 700,000 per day from viewer participation.
These revelations added urgency to the CA’s enforcement efforts, particularly given the growing concern over the social impact of gambling across Kenya.
The CA invoked Section 83A of the Kenya Information and Communications Act as the legal basis for its actions. In addition to the fines, broadcasters have been warned that further non-compliance could result in more severe consequences, including licence cancellation.
The Authority confirmed it will continue to monitor broadcasts for any further violations: “Broadcasters found in repeated breach will face tougher penalties.”
National Ban on Gambling Advertising
The fines come just weeks after Kenya’s Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) introduced a 30-day nationwide ban on all gambling advertising.
The move is part of a broader campaign to address the rapid growth of gambling activity in the country, especially among vulnerable audiences.
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