Kenya Begins Formal Transition to Gambling Regulatory Authority Under New Law

In a public notice dated October 2, 2025, signed by Acting Director General P.K. Mbugi, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya confirmed that it had officially begun a formal transition from the Betting Control and Licensing Board.

The transition will take place over several months as the new authority finalizes the regulations that will govern Kenya’s gambling landscape under the Gambling Control Act 2025. According to the notice, the authority is currently developing a set of rules covering licensing, compliance, and operational standards for all gambling entities.

To ensure a smooth transition, the processing of annual license applications was temporarily suspended. This moratorium will prevent overlaps or confusion as the new framework takes effect. The suspension will remain in force until the conclusion of the transition period, which ends in February 2026.

President William Ruto had also appointed Joseph Kirui Limo, former Kipkelion East MP, as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Gambling Regulatory Authority. Limo succeeds Jane Mwikali Makau, who had chaired the BCLB since 2022. Makau was reassigned to serve as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority.

The new Gambling Control Act introduced reforms to bring order and responsibility to the gaming sector. Operators will now be required to meet financial integrity tests, demonstrate compliance with anti-money-laundering laws, and provide evidence of systems that support responsible gambling. The Act also gives the authority the power to revoke or suspend licenses of non-compliant operators.

The Act revises taxation rates in the gambling sector. It lowers the tax on betting stakes from 12.5% to 7.5%, a move that has been widely welcomed by operators and players alike.

Before the transition, the BCLB had already approved 90 licenses for the 2025/2026 period, which will remain valid throughout the transition to the new Gambling Regulatory Authority.