RONALD KARAURI ON HOW SPORTPESA RACING F1 CAR LAUNCH SPARKED A POLITICAL STORM

Kasarani MP and SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri reflects on the launch of SportPesa Formula One Racing Car, recalling the political turmoil it unleashed in Kenya. 

According to Karauri, they had attained a level of influence that unsettled former President Uhuru Kenyatta, “Throwback to a time when there was a SportPesa Racing F1 car (this is at the launch). Rumour has it that this is what triggered the previous President to wage war on SportPesa using Matiangi.

At the time I was naive enough to believe it was a huge misunderstanding and all I had to do was to explain to them and everything would be ok. I came to learn the hard way that we had reached levels we were not supposed to reach, because we were ‘nobodies’.”

The MP expressed that he wouldn’t wish the experiences he went through on anyone, “I even met a young man at the club who told me that when he grows up he wants to be fought by the government like me. From 90B tax assessments to having a compromised media house writing about me every single day, wueh. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody, but nothing good comes easy, this is something I probably had to go through to grow into who I am today. #TBT”