A recent report, though disputed by the government, claims that Sh766 billion was spent on betting in Kenya in 2024. More worrying is the report’s assertion that teachers topped the list of Kenyans involved in this fast-growing industry. This revelation should deeply concern the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Members of the public interviewed by Education News agreed that the report’s findings seem to be very close to the truth.
“The media has been awash with reports of teachers taking their lives after losing money to betting firms,” pointed out Ogada from Kondele in Kisumu city. He claimed many incidents in which teachers lost money, but these incidents remain unreported in Kisumu.
Edgar, a teacher in Thika, corroborated Oguda’s statement by affirming that cases of teachers losing money to betting, especially through Aviator, have soured in the last two years.
He pointed out that cases of suicide linked to betting amongst the tutors made headlines in 2024 and have continued to spill until 2025.
According to the TGM sports betting survey results from October 2022, 63.82 per cent of Kenyans were involved in betting at different firms nationwide.
From the recent news that hit the media in March, a Junior School teacher from Elgeiyo Marakwet took his life after losing a whopping Ksh 900,000 to betting.
The incident depicts a worrying trend: employed teachers are daring to gamble with vast amounts of money at the expense of their development.
Members of the ‘Wadau wa Elimu’ Kenya who were reached for comments urged TSC to move quickly and devise strategies to curb the vice, which is taking a toll on its employees. They said the issue must be approached from all corners to be resolved.
Mwashigade from Voi suggested, “Teachers’ unions, Saccos, welfare groups, and medical insurance firms should be involved in the fight against betting addiction. ”
As schools reopen for term two, the employer is expected to move to address betting amongst the tutors.
The vice, like alcohol and drug abuse, is gradually negating the gains made in the education sector as teachers are reported to be spending most of their time betting. This issue not only impacts their mental well-being but also affects teacher-learner attention in schools.
By Kaptich Tarus.
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