Sportpesa management held a meeting with its employees to inform them of the plans to close down its business in Kenya and concentrate on Tanzania and UK branches.
A source at the betting company informed us that the meeting between Sportpesa and the government bore no fruits. Sportpesa was forced to move to court where they sued the government and demanded compensation for the loss incurred since Sportpesa paybill number was closed by Safaricom.
Bearing in mind that Sportpesa is accused of not paying tax since 2014, it will be almost impossible for the company to defeat the government in court. Sportpesa’s last option was to move to court, after this option is exhausted, they will have no other option but to close down the business.
Even though Airtel paybill for Sportpesa is working, banks have been told not to accept money from betting companies whose licenses were not renewed. This means that Sportpesa will be left with no option but to wind up its business.
The last nail on the coffin of the betting companies was hit yesterday when Interior CS Fred Matiangi ordered for deportation of 17 directors of various betting companies. The action grounded operations of the betting companies affected.