CA issues 12-hour ultimatum to TV stations over gambling ads
The authority revealed that despite a ban on gambling advertisements, several broadcasters continued to promote unlicensed betting content, putting them in breach of sector regulations.
The Communications Authority has given rogue TV stations 12 hours to stop airing gambling-related content or face license revocation, in a tough warning issued just a day after an explosive exposé aired by NTV.
In a statement released Monday evening, the authority revealed that despite a ban on gambling advertisements, several broadcasters continued to promote unlicensed betting content, putting them in breach of sector regulations.
On March 13, CA had already flagged 33 broadcasters for violations and followed up with a sector-wide advisory on April 23, directing all stations to stop gambling-related promotions.
"Even with the directives to suspend advertising of all gambling-related content, a review by the Authority in the second week of May 2025 revealed the continued airing of such prohibited content by some broadcasters, in blatant disregard of sector laws and directives," CA said.
Yahweh Media Services was among the stations found to have violated the ban, alongside eight other broadcasters, each fined Sh500,000.
The authority warned that unless the non-compliant stations halt the content within 12 hours, they risk facing harsher penalties.
"Consequently, in line with Section 83A of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, the Authority instituted a notice to issue a penalty of Sh500,000.00 to eight (8) non-compliant broadcasters for airing unlicensed price competition promotions, with a 12-hour ultimatum to cease all non-compliant broadcasts or face additional sanctions, including license revocation," CA added.
The move came shortly after NTV’s exposé, Sacred Swindle: Inside the Gospel of Greed on Kenya’s Airwaves, which laid bare how religious broadcasters were inserting gambling adverts under the guise of spiritual content.
One pastor revealed that they make up to Ksh700,000 daily from unsuspecting viewers who join raffles expecting cash prizes.
The investigation further alleged that televangelists were using faith to extract money from viewers, sparking renewed demands for accountability and regulatory action to protect the public from manipulation and fraud masked as religious content.
