loud and chilling cries have been peddled across the mainstream media, social media and other digital platforms for the better part of the week, as social media cum activists and bloggers lead in calling out the menace; terming betting and gambling key agents of suicidal cases in the country.
Betting has come as a wave, it blows everyone and everything in its proximity. Its addiction is now worse than drugs as psychological experts warn that its addiction is rooted in the brain’s reward system, a network responsible for behaviors essential to survival, such as seeking food, shelter and safety.
Experts also warns that it hijacks this system, tapping into same pathways and tricking the brain into reinforcing harmful behaviors by producing a sense of reward, prompting individual to continue the addictive behavior, believing it brings relief or fulfils a need.
The gambling and betting addiction has not left teachers and students behind, they have their fair share in the after effects of the menace as most of them opt in taking their own lives after losing chunks of money to the wild monster.
Live games and football betting on screens
In the current survey, suicidal cases has risen especially in the informal settlements where in a week approximately 10-12 bodies are collected, and when investigations are done on the causes of deaths, most are linked to gambling-related stress, betting losses and relationships breakdowns.
In a worrying turn of events, in the recent report released by TGM research, which shows 63.82 per cent of Kenyans are involved in betting, the report asserts that teachers and students, (youths) top the list of the groups mostly addicted in betting and gambling.
In Education News reporting, our reporters have covered various stories of students and teachers suicidal cases where most of them leave behind notes of acknowledgment of betting and gambling losses as the key impulse of their actions, hence death.
In the most recent case, Brian Ongwae, 22, Catholic University of East Africa, took his life after losing Kshs 15, 000 school fees money he had placed on a bet, with the hope of earning more but ended up the deal hitting a dead end. Another student from Kenyatta University, was found hanging behind his mother’s house in Ondome in Uriri in Migori County after losing Kshs 80, 000 in football bets. He left behind a note indicating the he lost the money he was given for the college fees thus saw no need to live.
The number of suicidal cases are numerous, considering that not all are reported in time for media coverage. Teachers too are not left behind as most of them lack a strong emotional intelligence on how to overcome the turbulence of losing big monies to gambling and betting.
In the most shocking case on March 21st, Junior Secondary School, Keiyo teacher takes own life after losing Kshs 900,000 in the popular Aviator betting. In June 2024, Nyamira Boys High School teacher allegedly died by suicide after losing Ksh 50,000 on an online casino bet.
The Aviator betting on play mode display
The hypothetical examples clearly display the tickling- timed bomb which is about to ruin the whole generation and its tutors as the legal authorities seat calm. This has raised concerns from few individuals in the country as the call for the betting and gambling sites regulations fill the air. The members of public has called on Teachers Service Commission to move in fast to curb the menace which is about ruin the whole commission’s fabric virtues and guidelines.
The public pontificates the rampant cases of suicides from tutors and students in the recent past mostly linked with betting and gambling. Members of the “Wadau wa Elimu’ is the recent worried group to come out cry loud for the effects of betting which they claim devour on both teachers and students, calling upon TSC to move quickly, derive key strategies to curb the vice which they claim taking toll on employees.
This situation has to even worry parents who always surrender their kids, students to teachers who are addicted to betting. Their concentration is divided and the expected results is barely achieved.
The loud out cry in the digital space especially, X, formerly known as Twitter, has drawn the attention of many, as the victims come out and share their brutal experience in betting and gambling.
In X account run by Nyakundi Cyprian, the journalist cum blogger is calling the Betting Controlling and Licensing Board (BCLB) under the executive office of the President Ruto to be suspended over its failure to address the rising gambling addiction crisis in Kenya, singling out Aviator, and demanded the Aviator code to be made public.
In another X account named Amerix, runned by a Reproductive Health, Mental Health and wellness cum advocate and blogger, he warns that gambling and betting takes away dreams, deflate mission and destroys ones purpose, discouraging those who are already in to seek assistant and quit.
In his timeline, a man who sorted anonymity, narrated how a colleague they work with as teller in Commercial bank, sent Kshs 300,000 from the bank’s Mpesa to his line and immediately bet on a football march, hoping to win and refund bank money and retain the rest, only to lose all the money, his name and job too.
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This discussion also attracted the attention of the Ministry of Health, State department of public health and professional standards, which saw them yesterday release statement to address the rising concern of the betting and gambling addiction in the county.
The PS, Mary Muthoni in a statement issued a warning over the rising cases of online gambling addiction in Kenya calling it a “silent epidemic” that is tearing through the youths, civil servants and ruining the community at large.
In the statement, the PS highlighted growing national concern over the mental, emotional, and financial harm caused by unchecked access to gambling platforms via mobile phones and digital platforms.
“We are deeply concerned about escalating cases of gambling-related distress from debt and depression to suicide. What initially appears to be harmless digital games is, in reality, a trap that exploits psychological vulnerabilities,” she said.
Gamblers analyse the betting options and games odds
The PS also noted that the most affected demographic is young Kenyans, many of whom are betting compulsively using borrowed money. The accessibility to 24/7 betting platforms and the normalization of gambling in media and sports in accelerating the crisis
PS Muthoni also outline some of the key actions proposed by the ministry to help curb the menace, by running national awareness campaigns on digital gambling addiction, coming up with stricter regulation on online betting platforms, collaboration with Telco’s, media and influencers to reduce promotion and do more research into digital addiction trends in Kenyan.
The ministry urges parents, caregivers, guardians to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting children and youths adding that addressing gambling and betting addiction requires a whole-of- society approach, calling upon the efforts of the media, educational institutions, religious organizations, technology companies and gambling operators to join hands in the fight against the betting and gambling addiction
She also share Ministry of Health, MoH Helpline: Dial 719 for those in need of assistance in case of being in distress conditions and harm.
By Brian Ndigo
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