Kenya parliamentary committee rejects proposal to lower gambling tax

Kenya’s contentious 35 percent tax on all gambling GGR looks set to remain after the National Assembly’s Sports, Culture and Tourism Committee this week rejected an amendment proposing a reduction to 15 percent.

Committee chairman Victor Munyaka MP said that the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act was in need of a complete makeover, possibly including different tax rates for various forms of gambling and commenting:

“After a careful review of the proposed amendments vis-a-vis the existing law, the committee members have unanimously decided that the existing law requires a thorough mop-up. The Act is outdated having been enacted in 1966.

“Furthermore, it is the feeling of this committee that the proposed amendments do not address the fact that technology has advanced and modern gaming and gambling is largely anchored on online platforms,” he added.

Munyaka revealed that in discussions on online gambling the committee had noted the absence in the proposed amendments of any legislative provisions through which online gambling can be checked and regulated, and that legislation in this regard should involve the Communication Authority and Kenya Revenue Authority in licensing and tracking online gaming, along with police monitoring of financial transactions with online betting platforms.

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