- Langat appealed to BCLB and the national government, calling for tighter regulation of betting firms alongside stronger public awareness campaigns to highlight the dangers of gambling
Mourners gathered in Kaptwolo Village on Wednesday for the burial of Dominic Korir, a young man whose death has been linked to losses incurred through Aviator betting, an occasion that became a platform for renewed calls for stricter regulation of gambling in Kenya.
KNUT Executive Secretary Desmond Langat, addressing those gathered at the funeral, described gambling as a growing social crisis that has left a trail of financial, emotional and psychological suffering across families and communities nationwide, with young people especially vulnerable to the lure of quick wealth promised by online betting platforms.
“The death of Dominic is a painful reminder of the dangers associated with irresponsible gambling. No family should have to experience such a heartbreaking loss,” Langat said.
Langat noted that countless individuals have lost significant sums of money through betting, with the resulting financial strain often triggering depression, family conflict, debt and loss of livelihoods. In some instances, he said, the fallout has proven both devastating and irreversible.
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He directed his appeal to the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) and the national government, calling for tighter regulation of betting firms alongside stronger public awareness campaigns to highlight the dangers of gambling. Langat also pressed authorities to establish intervention programmes for individuals battling gambling addiction and to put in place safeguards protecting young people from exposure to harmful betting practices.
Beyond government action, Langat called on parents, teachers, religious leaders and community-based organisations to take a more hands-on role in educating young people about the risks of gambling and steering them toward responsible decision-making.
Residents and mourners at the funeral shared Langat’s concerns, pointing to the rising popularity of online betting platforms and the toll it continues to take on vulnerable members of the community. They called on policymakers to act decisively to curb the gambling menace before more families are forced to endure similar losses.
By Philip Koech
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