Kenya’s gambling regulator, the Gambling Regulatory Authority, has opened applications for the position of Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The vacancy was published on 23 January, and the new head is expected to oversee the Authority’s day-to-day operations and provide strategic leadership for regulation of the country’s gambling sector.
In essence, this is a position that combines an administrative role with the role of an architect of the market’s rules. For the industry, this is an important signal, since the regulator is only building its work within the new legal framework, and the level of expectations from the state, operators, and civil society organizations has noticeably increased.
Scope of authority and day-to-day management workload
In the job description, the emphasis is on the fact that the Director General will be responsible for the Authority’s day-to-day activities. This implies not only overseeing licensing and supervisory procedures, but also coordinating internal units that must function as a single, well-coordinated system, especially amid the growth of remote gambling.
The strategic component is emphasized separately. The regulator is expected not merely to record violations and issue permits, but to provide clear guidance for the market, where technology changes player behavior faster than guidelines and regulations can be updated.
One vivid example of this behavioral change is that people are visiting land-based casinos less and playing online more actively. Moreover, this is happening not only in Kenya, but worldwide. The trend is most clearly observed in developed countries in Europe and North America. According to the portal www.casinosbonusca.com, well-known Canadian online casinos have attracted the majority of people who enjoy this type of leisure. And this has even affected the number of Canadian tourists in Las Vegas. The situation is similar in Macau and other global gambling hubs.
In Kenya, the same thing is happening. Most residents now have smartphones, and mobile internet makes it possible to launch games from dozens of online casinos present in the country. Unfortunately, these casinos operate “in a grey area,” and therefore their activities need effective regulation.
Key tasks listed in the vacancy include:
- leading the development of regulatory policy and related documents
- managing staff and organizing team operations
- budgeting and financial planning within the Authority’s mandate
- implementing the regulator’s Board decisions and monitoring execution
- strengthening internal processes and control systems
- advancing the agency’s strategic goals over a multi-year horizon
The public part of the announcement does not disclose which performance indicators will be considered basic, for example the proportion of illegal operations identified or the speed of reviewing applications. This leaves room for differing interpretations of what exactly will be considered successful performance in the role.
A three-year contract and the question of remuneration
The appointment is предусмотрено for a term of 3 years with the option of a one-time extension subject to a positive performance evaluation. This format is often used for managers from whom measurable changes are expected, while at the same time maintaining control through periodic reassessment of the mandate.
Remuneration is determined by the regulator’s Board in consultation with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. This means that the final figure depends not only on an internal decision of the Authority, but also on the frameworks that apply to pay in the public sector.
At the same time, the announcement provides no guidance on the pay range and compensation structure, for example a fixed component and a bonus component. For the market, this is a noticeable gap, since transparency of a top executive’s remuneration is often seen as an indicator of the new institution’s maturity.
Who is being considered for the role
The requirements for candidates are formulated quite strictly and are geared toward experienced managers rather than highly specialized candidates. The authorities, judging by the description, are looking for a person who can simultaneously maintain process discipline and negotiate with stakeholders, including operators and civil society groups.
The requirements checklist in the announcement looks like this:
- Kenyan citizenship
- higher education, a degree from a recognized university
- at least 10 years of experience in leadership positions
- meeting constitutional requirements on probity and integrity, i.e., demonstrable honesty and the absence of disqualifying circumstances
The separate emphasis on integrity reflects the sensitivity of the gambling topic, where the regulator inevitably faces conflicts of interest. At the same time, the specific verification mechanisms are not detailed in the vacancy text, so the question remains as to how thorough the vetting of candidates’ professional reputation will be.
How applications are submitted and the deadline
The application period is limited to a specific deadline. Documents must be received by 6 February, 17:00; after that, the regulator is formally entitled not to consider late submissions.
The submission procedure предусматривает a paper-based format. Applications are accepted in sealed envelopes, which must be physically delivered or submitted to the Gambling Regulatory Authority office in Nairobi. This model reduces dependence on digital channels, but at the same time may complicate participation for candidates who are outside the capital or are counting on a fully remote process.
Why the vacancy comes amid sector reforms
The competition for the head position is taking place soon after institutional changes. The Gambling Regulatory Authority was created under the Gambling Control Act 2025, which came into force in October 2025. The document updated the previous Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act and reflected the reality of online and remote gambling, where the boundaries between a legal service and an illegal platform can be blurred.
The new body received a broader mandate than the previous structure. Its tasks include licensing market participants, shutting down illegal operations, and promoting responsible gambling practices, i.e., harm-reduction measures related to gambling behavior. At the same time, this creates a challenging split in expectations: some market participants bet on predictability and a service-oriented approach by the regulator, while civil society groups more often expect strict oversight and swift restrictions.
Who is leading the regulator now
At present, the duties of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) are being carried out by Peter Mbugi. Previously, he headed the Betting Control and Licensing Board, i.e., the body on which regulation was based prior to the legislative overhaul.
The appointment of a new Director General is seen as an opportunity to set a different management pace and strengthen the Authority’s strategic direction. In practice, this may mean rebalancing priorities between controlling the illegal segment, developing licensing, and communications on responsible gambling, which in many countries is becoming one of the key criteria used to assess regulators’ performance.
