Police destroy gambling machines worth Sh3.28million

Kakamega OCPD Joseph Chebii points at 41 gambling machines that were confiscated during an operation (DUNCAN OCHOLLA)

KAKAMEGA, KENYA: Police in Kakamega County on Friday destroyed over 40 gambling machines valued at Sh3.28million.

The gambling machines were set a blaze at Kakamega Central police station in an operation that was led by area OCPD Joseph and County Administration Police Commander, David Kabena.

According to Mr Kabena, the AP commander, the gambling machines were impounded within Kakamega Central Sub County.

“Today we have set ablaze a total of 41 gambling machines which goes at a street value of Sh3.28million. Late last year we impounded and set a blaze over 213 lotto machines that were worth Sh17.04million,” said Kabena.

Kabena said only the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) is mandated to license betting firms that engage in legal business, saying business permits from County Governments is not a license to do such illegal business.

Mr Kabena said as the county security team, they will not relent in cracking down on business entities operating the gambling machines and its proprietors prosecuted.

 “These lottery joints are a hiding place for criminals and they are the major cause for the high dropout rate of school going children and teenage pregnancies. We have also received cases where university and college students lose money meant for paying school fees to gambling,” said Kabena.

He added “Some house helps in the county have lost their jobs after going to bet with the money they were sent by their bosses and lose it to the gamblers in the process. Such cases have been brought to the police station and we will not condone the vice.”