Owners of the SportPesa brand through their company Milestone Games Limited have moved to court accusing officials of the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) of contempt of court.
The SportPesa brand owners want the BCLB officials charged for contempt of court and jailed for six months if found guilty.
According to SportPesa, BCLB officials have disobeyed court orders clearing the betting firm to operate in the country.
Making reference to a letter by BCLB threatening to withdraw it license, SportPesa noted that such a move amounted to intimidation and violation of the court order granted by High Court judge Pauline Nyamweya on December 4, 2020.
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“The action to belittle and disregard court orders at will cannot be taken lightly and should be arrested at the earliest opportunity… That the act of the Respondent and its Board Members is of utter utmost contempt of court and demonstrates disrespect to the Honourable Court and the same should not go unpunished,” Milestone Games Limited’s petition read in part.
Meanwhile, SportPesa has been involved in a back and forth clash with the government over its operation in the country, with the Ministry of Interior noting that it will not relent in its fight against “illegal gambling”.
"We will not go back on the decision that we have made as a government. And Kenyans can rest assured, absolutely on this matter," Ministry of Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi said during a past crackdown.
