Student, 23, wins Sh31 million SportPesa jackpot

A student who borrowed Sh100 and a phone to place a bet is the new Sh31 million SportPesa jackpot winner.

Quintet Nimo Chemei, 23, and mother of two, was named the winner after correctly predicting 16 out of 17 matches last weekend.

She hails from Masindet village, Mt Elgon, and becomes the second woman to ever win such an amount of money through sports betting.

Elimah Khanaitsa had been topping the list following her Sh22 million January win.

Nimo was forced to cut short her classes at Eldoret College of Professional Studies for lack of fees.

She used a friend's phone to place the lucky bet with the Sh100 her father had lent her.

Her friend also scooped Sh1.9 million following a bet she placed on the weekend matches.

"I lost my phone hence borrowed my friend's and placed the bet," she said at her Masindet home on Wednesday.

"After my friend spoke of her win, I checked and found out that I had received Sh31 million. I did not believe it."

"My father was hesitant when I told him about the win. He asked me to withdraw Sh50 to test if it was true," she added.

Nimo says she started betting in July last year after she was introduced by a friend who had won.

"I started betting with Sh50. The highest I have used is Sh100. I am very happy for the win. This is a new dawn," she said.

Nimo says she want to complete her supply management certificate course.

"I want to first invest in education because it will assist me in future. It is after this that I will plan what to do next," she said.

Kester Shimonyo, SportPesa' chief marketing officer, said betting should be a hobby and not a full-time job.

"People should only bet with a little amount of cash. I am happy that Sportpesa is changing lives," he said.

"We are ready to give them financial and legal advisors to protect them from exploitation by unscrupulous people," Shimonyo said.

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