Murang'a County Commissioner on the spot over gambling machines

Murang'a County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha is on the spot over inactivity in dealing with proliferation of gambling machines in all his nine(9) sub-Counties.

Murang'a Senator Joe Nyutu said the state of gambling in Murang'a is worrying and qualifies to be treated as a county tragedy.

"We have the recent directive by the government ruling gambling as an intolerable vice that should be neutered with immediate effect...yet, in Murang'a, what we are witnessing is security love for the gambling agents," Mr Nyutu said.

This came as Murang'a County Traders Welfare Union chaired by Mr Stephen Nduati reported that the county has been hit by an acute shortage of Sh10 and Sh20 coins owing to influx of the gambling machines.

Mr Nduati said he has personally brought the issue to the attention of Mr Nkanatha "who despite promising action, has been going into silence mode as his juniors continue to collect benefits from the gambling agents".

He produced a report by the security committee vide reference: MUR1833109 confirming that his report had been received and would be acted upon within 24 hours. 

"That was on April 14, 2025. The situation has remained the same if not worse as gambling continue to hold captive the pulse of Murang'a county as the senior security officers remain cheerleaders," Mr Nduati said.

Further, the Parents Association that is led by Ms Damaris Maina said "the culture of gambling in Murang'a County has indoctrinated even the very young as our County Security committee protects the addictive vice".

Ms Maina said the cry is replicated in all the nine(9) sub-Counties of Murang'a County namely Gatanga, Ithanga Kakuzi, Kandara, Kigumo, Maragua, Kiharu, Kahuro, Kangema, and Mathioya.

"We've brought this matter to the attention of area authorities. Our children are stealing money from us to go gambling. It is in those gambling dens that they interact with alcohol and narcotics dealers," said Kigumo Residents Association Secretary Ms Joyce Kiragu. 

According to Kigumo Traders Association chairman Mr John Chege, the shortage of coins is occasioned by the machines hoarding them after plays.

“The players insert Sh10 and Sh20 in the machines in the hope of winning additional amounts. The government had eradicated them, but for the past two(2) weeks, they have come back in full force,” Mr Chege said. 

He said he has personally sought help from Kigumo sub-County Police Commander Kiprono Tanui to deal with the illegal gambling machines, but a month later, nothing has happened.

He said the worst hit is Muthithi Ward where the machines are based in Kaharate, Heho, Gakuria Hungu, Kambi, and Karuri markets.

"The interesting part is that all those markets are hosts either to a police patrol base or a chiefs camp. How the government officers fail to notice their operation is subject to speculation as to the cause," he said adding that "not once has the issue of corrupt protection by security officers has been cited as the root cause".

Mr Tanui told us that "I've since discussed the issue with my OCS at Muthithi to deal".

However, the discussions as cited have remained impotent for the period under review, leaving the question begging as to who between the Mr Tanui and his OCS is the boss.

Mr Nkanatha's predecessors being Mr Patrick Mukuria and Mr Karuku Ngumo had managed to keep the betting culture out of bounds in Murang'a.

Mr Nkanatha's reign has been accused of ensuring many of the vices that had been eliminated are creeping back.

"We had managed to have killer and illicit brews out of our county. We had ensured narcotics were out of bounds... We today witness even bank customers losing their cash to street gangs in broad daylight. We are witnessing a security leadership nightmare in Murang'a," said a junior officer attached to Kenol Police Station.

Mr Chege said there is a trick the gambling machines' operators employ to beat the law enforcers once an order for a crackdown is made.

Officers who protect the operators tip them of the raids or confiscate some while deliberately leaving behind others for the business to continue.

"The other trick is where the officers come with machines earlier confiscated and parade them as freshly arrested. Or, the operators once tipped place faulty ones to be confiscated. The officers take photos and send them to their seniors as proof of successful raid," he said.

The parents lamented that the problem is recurrent where after an outcry, the officers swing into peace meal action only to abandon it hence making the problem entrenched and claiming morals of area children.

Murang'a Chief Executive for Youth and Culture Affairs Manoah Gachucha said the county government is concerned.

"We know that the machines are disturbing children development as well as affecting trade owing to lack of free currency circulation. We will recommend withdrawal of trading licences for businesses hosting those machines," Mr Gachucha said.

He said the machines are operated inside bars, hotels and video shops as well as in barber shops.

"Meanwhile, we are urging the security officers to treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves," he said