Karen Nyamu Calls for Regulation of Influencers Using Branded Merchandise to Promote Gambling

Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu wants Kenya’s gambling advertising regulations tightened to close a loophole, saying that celebrities and social media influencers are circumventing existing bans by promoting betting companies through branded merchandise rather than direct endorsements.

Speaking on the Senate floor on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Nyamu said the practice undermines regulations that prohibit influencer-led gambling advertisements, which were introduced to protect consumers and limit the exposure of young people to betting promotions.

“We know we passed regulations banning advertisement by influencers. But, Mr. Speaker, they have resulted in other smart ways where they wear the merchandise,” Nyamu told the Senate. “They have water bottles branded, merchandise, T-shirts and all that branded. They won’t mention the brand, but you can clearly see the address in that brand” .

The senator argued that the growing influence of public figures in Kenyan society required regulators to examine promotional practices beyond conventional advertising channels. She called for consumer protection to be placed at the centre of gambling regulation, warning that the consequences of unchecked gambling extend beyond individual financial loss to the breakdown of families and social fabric.

“This gambling issue has become a menace, and we know anything abused becomes a menace,” she said. “We have to take stock now and know what the statistics are between gambling that is entertainment and gambling that is destroying our people, destroying our family units, and destroying what we stand for as a society” .

In 2025, the Betting Control and Licensing Board introduced stricter rules banning the use of celebrities, influencers, and testimonials in gambling advertisements, requiring prior approval from the BCLB and classification by the Kenya Film Classification Board, and prohibiting content that portrays gambling as a source of income or success.