Betting cartel dirty moves as deadline nears – Weekly Citizen

As the deadline for Betting and Casino firms to clear billions they owe Kenya Revenue Authority, (KRA) nears, cartel in the industry are not taking anything for granted and underworld deals being cut with billions being raised to counter the state move.

Weekly Citizen has established, part of the money being collected is to influence the government to consider allowing licenses and permit holders given a grace period within which to work towards catching up with regulatory obligations.

The cartel want one license cycles being of 1^st July 2019 moved to June 2020 to allow them opportunity to engage KRA. However fear is, if the period is granted, the players will have enough time to relocate to neighboring countries deserting the Kenyan scene thus avoiding to pay pending taxes.The move will get the state off guard.

Weekly Citizen investigative team has information, a powerful operative Maina Wandere who has unlimited access to State House has been mandated to broker the deal between KRA and powerful forces at office of the president.Wanderi was picked to great fear among top government officials to play game on grounds,he has state house blessing to broker the current stalemate.

Also engaged in the deal is a one Andrew Ndichu, Ndichu is a son of former Chairman of Betting and Licensing Control Board (BLC). Ndichu are associated withe Mayfair Casino that has branches at Inter Continental hotel trading as R.K Casino, Mombasa and Malindi.

Maina on the other side is linked to Sportspesa. The directors of Sportpesa boast of having paid for president Uhuru Kenyatta during his tour to watch Abu Dhabi ,Grand Prix Formula One. Sportspesa are key sponsors of the Grand Prix event together with Everton FC, an English club.

As sponsors of Formula One, many were left wondering loud why they humiliated Uhuru during the event.Uhuru was allocated VIP seat to follow the motor show  as Sportspesa directors were accommodated in VVIP area just reserved of chosen few. Uhuru sat a third row from them.

Those well versed with the scenario say, it was due to the said humiliation Uhuru had during SportPesa sponsored Formula one event that he decided to declare total war on betting and Casino firms.He saw how the directors were basking in glory in foreign land while fleeing desperate Kenyans in betting games some ending up committing suicide.

The president has instructed Interior Ministry CS Fred Matiangi and PS Karanja Kibicho to control the Industry that has seen families break and money laundering perfected. Fear is also, money from the industry is likely to be funding terrorism.

Ndichu

The firms are also engaged in tax evasion. To fight back the government orders, the industry players have raised billions to bribe KRA officers and others in government.

Weekly Citizen has a list of betting and Casinos that are  paying millions to help oil the hands of those involved in vetting  process to issue new licenses.

On 18 June, 2019, under Association of Gaming operators-Kenya, the cartel wrote a request and appeal to renewal of licenses to the office of the president.

As they engage KRA and office of the president, the cartel are also sponsoring a Bill in parliament to compromise MPs to help them operate in the country. However, powerful forces in parliament are under pressure  not to allow the Bill reach the floor of the house.

Maina and Andrew Ndichu are said to have compromised the current board at BLC. To facilitate operations, an apartment  has been rented in upmarket Nairobi area where millions are delivered day and night for facilitation. Suprisingly, the apartment has also been turned into a drinking and sex exploitation den.

The operators letter to CS Matiangi in our possession reads as follows:-