The day MPs were banned from gambling dens

Isinya Police boss Steve Wenda, points at more than 100 betting machines that were impounded during a joint operation between the Kajiado County Government askaris and the police. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

In the early 1980s, the betting bug bit politicians. The ‘virus’ rapidly spread to government offices, prompting an executive order to counter it.

Daniel Arap Moi, the then President, had had enough of it. With “immediate effect”, he banned public servants, MPs and other leaders from setting foot in casinos to gamble.