Ruto enacts laws to tame gambling, restructure road agencies

President William Ruto assents to gambling bill at State house.[PCS]

President William Ruto has signed the Gambling Control Bill into law, marking a significant shift in the  regulation of the betting and gaming industry in Kenya.

Speaking during the assent ceremony at State House on Thursday, President Ruto underscored the growing threat that uncontrolled gambling poses to the social fabric, particularly among the youth.

“To ensure that it does not become a menace to society, we have taken a comprehensive approach that strikes a balance between the cost and benefits of gambling,” said Ruto.

The new law is expected to modernise how gambling is licensed and controlled in Kenya, providing a coherent and ethically grounded regulatory framework. 

The bill has undergone two years of deliberations and amendments in both Houses of Parliament.

The law establishes a regulatory authority tasked with licensing, vetting, and overseeing all gambling-related entities. It will regulate betting, casinos, public lotteries, prize competitions, and control advertising related to gaming and betting promotions.

Additionally, President Ruto also assented to the Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill No. 2 of 2025.

 The bill aligns the tenure of Director-Generals of key road authorities with the Mwongozo Code of Governance for State Corporations.

Under the new law, the heads of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) will serve a three-year term, renewable based on performance.

Current CEOs of the respective agencies will serve for not more than a year before becoming eligible to apply for term renewal, subject to performance evaluations.