KDRTV NEWS – Nairobi: A media storm is brewing as Kameme TV and 22 other television stations face imminent closure for defying a government directive that suspended all betting advertisements for 30 days. The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), in a statement issued on May 5, 2025, accused the stations of continuing to air unauthorized betting content—complete with payment prompts—even after the suspension was officially announced.
The BCLB described the violations as deliberate and widespread. According to the board’s director, P.K. Mbugi, the stations blatantly disregarded the ban by encouraging audiences to participate in gambling activities, directly undermining regulatory efforts aimed at curbing the rise of gambling addiction, especially among Kenyan youth. The board has now written to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), requesting the immediate shutdown of the offending stations. The matter has also been escalated to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), signaling potential legal consequences for those behind the broadcasts.
Among the media houses now staring at the possibility of being pulled off air are Kameme TV, Tohanchane TV, Favour Life TV, Swahili TV, Moja One, Michezo TV, Venus TV, and 16 others—most of them smaller broadcasters whose operations heavily depend on advertising revenue, including from the gambling sector.
The government’s temporary suspension was meant to create a cooling-off period to evaluate how betting content is being marketed to the public. But this wave of noncompliance has sparked alarm among regulators and raised questions about media ethics, the rule of law, and the growing influence of gambling money in shaping TV content. Industry observers say the crackdown is long overdue and signals a turning point in Kenya’s approach to gambling regulation.
While some broadcasters defend betting promotions as a necessary source of revenue in an increasingly tough economic environment, critics argue that this reliance comes at a dangerous social cost. Many of the affected programs are believed to have targeted impressionable audiences, often wrapping gambling messages in flashy entertainment and celebrity appeal. The concern is not just the ads themselves, but how deeply betting culture has embedded itself into prime-time television.
The decision by the BCLB to escalate the matter beyond regulatory censure to actual shutdowns has sent shockwaves across the industry. It is the clearest indication yet that the government is willing to take firm action to enforce compliance. None of the affected stations had issued a formal response at the time of reporting, but media insiders are already bracing for ripple effects, especially if the Communications Authority follows through with the shutdown orders.
What remains to be seen is whether this clampdown will lead to long-term reforms, or whether betting firms will simply shift their strategies to other platforms such as radio, social media, and online streaming. For now, however, the message from the government is loud and clear: the era of unchecked betting promotions on Kenyan airwaves may be nearing its end. And for Kameme TV and its counterparts, the clock is ticking.
