Ruto Signs Gambling Control Bill, Amends Roads Act in Major Governance Shake-up

President William Ruto has signed into law the Gambling Control Bill and amendments to the Roads Act, in a sweeping move aimed at tightening oversight in the betting industry and strengthening governance across key state infrastructure agencies.

The Gambling Control Act introduces strict regulatory measures to curb what the government has termed as the growing social costs of unregulated betting, especially among youth. It establishes the Gambling Regulatory Authority, which will be tasked with licensing gambling operators, conducting vetting processes, and overseeing real-time monitoring of gaming activities across the country.

Under the new law, the minimum online bet has been set at KSh 20. Operators found violating this requirement will face a fine of KSh 5 million or up to five years in prison. Additionally, all players will be required to register and provide proof of age, with only individuals aged 18 years and above allowed to participate.

The law also imposes a 15% tax on gross gaming revenue, payable to the Kenya Revenue Authority on a monthly basis. Further, betting firms, especially online operators, will be required to deposit financial security guarantees, such as KSh 200 million, to ensure accountability and protect consumer interests.

In a bid to encourage fairness and transparency, the law mandates prompt payout of winnings and sets new rules on responsible advertising by gambling firms.

Meanwhile, in a separate legislative development, the President also signed into law amendments to the Roads Act. The changes reduce the terms of service for Directors-General at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) from five years (renewable once) to three years (also renewable once), effectively limiting their tenure to six years.

The amendments are designed to improve performance, align leadership in road agencies with the Mwongozo Code of Governance, and boost overall accountability. Current Directors-General will continue to serve their unexpired terms, with those on their first term eligible for one more renewal under the new terms.

Both pieces of legislation reflect the government’s renewed focus on institutional reform, financial accountability, and citizen protection in sectors critical to public welfare.