- Comments and submissions, the Taskforce says, can also be hand-delivered to the Secretariat at its offices at the KICC business centre or emailed.
- The aim of setting up the national lottery is to support good causes and improve the quality of life of citizens through identified initiatives.
Kenyans have 10 days beginning today to submit their views on two draft bills that seek to create a National Lottery.
The Presidential Taskforce on the establishment of the lottery has today begun conducting public participation, an exercise set to end on April 21.
During the period, Kenyans are expected to scrutinize the draft National Lottery Bill (2023), Gambling Control Bill (2023) and Gambling Policy and give their input.
Comments and submissions, the Taskforce says, can also be hand-delivered to the Secretariat at its offices at the KICC business centre or emailed.
“Participation by all stakeholders is encouraged including the private sector, civil society groups, NGOs, professional bodies, persons with disabilities and faith-based organizations, women and youth,” the national technical chairperson Narendra Raval has said.
Both the technical and steering Committee held the first forum in Nairobi on Tuesday.
The meeting brought together various stakeholders and representatives from various fields from the three counties of Kiambu, Nairobi and Kajiado.
The county-based public engagement forums will resume on April 13 with Machakos playing a host to Makueni and Kitui while participants from the six counties of Uasin Gishu, Elgeiyo marakwet, Nandi, West Pokot, Turkana and West Pokot converging in Eldoret.
For Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga counties, the meeting will be held in Kakamega as those from Samburu, Marsabit, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties meeting in Isiolo.
While the Lottery Bill seeks to establish the National Lottery, Lottery Board and Lottery Fund, the gambling control Bill will majorly be on regulation of the industry.
The gambling Bill will control gambling activities, promote the responsible gambling industry while prohibiting unlawful activities, help to minimize social harm and provide mechanisms for dispute resolutions related to it.
The aim of setting up the national lottery is to support good causes and improve the quality of life of citizens through identified initiatives.
Through the proceeds of ticket sales and taxation of winnings, the government generates revenue to support various public initiatives or programs.
This may include charitable causes such as support for homes for orphans, the elderly and the vulnerable, sports activities, heritage initiatives as well as arts and culture.
"It will be operated by the government or an operator permitted by the government," reads the regulation in part.
The operator, it adds, shall come up with essentials which game design, ticket sales, drawings, prize payouts, use of proceeds and regulations to ensure it runs a competitive lottery.
Revenue proceeds shall be apportioned such that 50 per cent will go to prizes while 38 per cent is set for good causes.
Operator’s profit, tax, retailers, marketing and operating costs take 10 per cent while gambling regulator and lottery board operations are both assigned one per cent.
To protect minors from getting involved in gaming or betting, the Gambling Control Bill spells out harsh penalties for anyone found.
It proposes Sh500,000 fine upon conviction or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.
To run an online gambling or a national lottery, Sh200 million has been proposed as the security while for casinos including public gambling and non-online gambling one has to part with Sh20 million.
In addressing addiction among users, the Taskforce has said all licenced operators will be required to run or place advertisements warning about it.
Other forms of gambling which are going to be regulated once the Bill is enacted include prize competition, bingo and pool betting scheme.
The Gambling regulatory authority which is created under the Bill will replace the current Betting Control and licencing board (BCLB).
It will be tasked with providing policies, and licence national lotteries with the mandate of the counties being to issue licence premises operating the business and implement policy standards.