How BetKing entered Kenyan market, plans to invest on sports
By People Reporter, July 27, 2020
A lot of questions have emerged since Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa announced a Sh 1.2 billion league sponsorship deal by BetKing betting firm to last for five years with all teams participating in the top flight competition guaranteed to pocket Sh 8 million annually.
The July 16 announcement was probed, with a section of football stakeholders questioning the whereabouts of the sponsors representatives who did not grace the occasion and some even wondered if the firm that is dominant in Nigeria was really registered in the country and with an operating license.
People Sport investigations has revealed that the firm actually has an operating licence number 0000156 from the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), thanks to their partnership with previously existing local firm Safaribet, the partnership gave birth to Entertainment Network Group Kenya Limited.
The firm which has links with BetKing Nigeria, is operated under an umbrella company known as King Makers.
“I know BetKing have been in operation, maybe they have entered into some sort of partnership with other existing firms, but BCLB are yet to issue the 2020/2021 licences to any betting firm,” BCLB Chief Executive Officer Peter Mbugi told People Sport.