Nairobi County Betting Board on the Spot Over Staff Recruitment

A hiring scandal is brewing in Nairobi County over alleged irregularities in recruiting staff within the betting control and licensing department.

Bungoma Senator David Wakoli on Wednesday, March 12, raised an alarm over a corrupt and opaque hiring process at the betting control board that is believed to have favoured politically connected individuals at the expense of qualified candidates.

The senator said that sources within the county indicated that several positions within the betting regulatory department were allegedly filled without a transparent recruitment process.

The reports also indicated that influential figures, including top county officials, have handpicked candidates, bypassing the hiring protocols.

Senator Wakoli has accused the Nairobi County government of failing to uphold merit-based employment.

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Senator Wakoli Issues Demands to Nairobi County

Consequently, Senator Wakoli sought a statement from the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare regarding recruitment, promotion and staff development practices at the Nairobi City County Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Control Board.

The Senator has also called for a detailed breakdown of the Board’s staff complement by position.

“Should disparities exist, he demands an explanation of corrective measures being taken,” a statement from the senate committee read in part.

At the same time, Wakoli sought a full list of senior management members, including their academic qualifications and professional experience, to assess the leadership overseeing the Board’s operations.

He also demanded for information on the most recent recruitment and promotion processes, including whether vacancies were advertised internally, externally or both. 

The county government of Nairobi has been asked to provide the criteria used in candidate selection for the various positions at the betting control and licensing department.

“He is particularly keen to establish whether participation in training and capacity-building programs influenced promotion decisions,” added the senate’s statement.

Additionally, the Senator has requested a comprehensive list of officers who previously served in the defunct board and later transitioned to the current entity.

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About the Betting Control and Licensing Board 

The Nairobi City County Betting, Lotteries, Gaming Act provides for the establishment of the Nairobi City County Betting Control and Licensing Board.

As per the Act, the Board is led by a chairperson, appointed by the Governor.

It is made up of the chief officer responsible for finance, the head of the county inspectorate services, and six persons appointed by the Governor who shall be persons conversant with trade and financial matters respectively. 

The Governor also appoints a county public officer from the legal department to be secretary to the Board for a period of three years.

The Board’s mandate is to provide procedures applicable to the regulation and licensing of betting, lotteries and gaming in the County and make provisions for periodic monitoring and evaluation of betting.

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