Kenya Fines Nine TV Stations Over Unlicensed Gambling Ads on Faith-Based Channels

Each broadcaster has been fined Sh500,000 (approximately $3,800) and given a strict 12-hour deadline to cease the prohibited broadcasts or risk more severe penalties, including possible licence revocation.

The fines follow a sector-wide compliance review conducted in May 2025, which found that certain broadcasters had continued to flout regulations despite repeated warnings. The CA had previously issued a directive on 13 March and a general advisory on 23 April, ordering all media outlets to suspend any form of gambling-related advertising. However, the review revealed that several stations persisted in airing these promotions, often embedded within religious programming.

The enforcement action was spurred by an investigative report aired by NTV, titled Sacred Swindle: Inside the Gospel of Greed on Kenya’s Airwaves. The exposé revealed how some faith-based channels were disguising gambling promotions as spiritual or religious blessings. One pastor featured in the report claimed to make as much as Sh700,000 daily through prize competitions marketed as divine opportunities, effectively running gambling schemes under the guise of faith.

The CA emphasized that its crackdown was conducted in accordance with Section 83A of the Kenya Information and Communications Act. The authority warned that repeated non-compliance would attract even stiffer penalties and reiterated that gambling promotions—particularly those misrepresented within religious content—would not be tolerated.

In a strongly worded statement, the Authority said: “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.”

This development comes on the heels of a 30-day nationwide ban on gambling advertisements, recently enforced by the Betting Control and Licensing Board. The moratorium reflects growing national concerns over the rapid and unregulated expansion of gambling, particularly among vulnerable populations.

The CA has pledged to maintain close monitoring of broadcasts to ensure full compliance and protect the public from exploitative content disguised as religious or entertainment programming.