Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei has vowed to oppose the Gambling Control Bill, citing concerns over child protection and the erosion of county powers.

Speaking in the Senate on Thursday, July 17, 2025, Cherargei said he would resist the bill “with all my body organs” when it comes to a vote, signalling a heated showdown as lawmakers debate the proposed law.

The bill, which is the product of a mediation committee between the National Assembly and Senate, seeks to overhaul Kenya’s gambling industry. It includes the creation of a new Gambling Regulatory Authority and introduces several reforms, some of which have sparked sharp criticism.

Cherargei supported a clause restricting gambling advertisements from airing on television between 6 am and 10 pm, except during live sporting events. He said this measure would protect children during watershed hours.

“This will help shield our children from gambling content. We are in line with global best practices, where limiting ad exposure has reduced youth gambling rates,” he said, echoing findings from a 2023 World Health Organisation report.

However, the senator rejected the proposal to slash fines for gambling violations from Ksh20 million to Ksh1 million, warning that lower penalties would embolden rogue operators.

“This reduction sends the wrong message to an industry that is already out of control,” he said, referencing research from the Journal of Gambling Studies (2021), which links higher fines to lower addiction rates.

Cherargei also raised constitutional issues, accusing the mediation team of sidelining counties in the regulation of gambling. He reminded legislators that under Article 96, the Senate’s role is to protect devolution.

“Licensing is a county function under the Fourth Schedule. We issue far too many licences already. We must retain this power at the county level,” he said.

The motion to consider the mediation committee’s report was moved by Senator Allan Chesang. The Senate is expected to deliberate further in the coming days.

As the debate intensifies, Cherargei’s opposition highlights growing tensions between the government’s push to streamline the gambling sector and the need to safeguard vulnerable groups and uphold devolved governance.

The fate of the Gambling Control Bill now hangs in the balance, with stakeholders keenly watching to see whether Cherargei’s dissent will influence the final decision.