Omtatah scoff at the gambling bill, urges sustainable solutions
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has sharply criticised the proposed Gambling Control Bill, calling for its immediate withdrawal and labelling it as poorly thought-out and lacking in scientific grounding.
Omtatah is urging lawmakers to return to the drawing board and develop a more effective legislative framework grounded in data and real-world insights.
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In a video clip on his X account on Monday, July 28, 2025, Omtatah dismissed the bill as an inadequate response to a complex national issue, arguing that it failed to address the root causes of gambling addiction in Kenya.
“This is a bad bill. It is tackling a very, very technical area without any scientific study having preceded it,” he said.
The senator emphasised that gambling has rapidly grown across Kenya due to socioeconomic hardships, especially among the youth, who view it as a quick escape from poverty.
“The root cause of gambling is a misconception that it’s a shortcut to creating wealth. And in a country like Kenya now, where shielding has become very difficult, you can see the way this thing has mushroomed,” he noted.
Omtatah argued that a bill seeking to regulate gambling must be based on comprehensive research, not assumptions. He noted that the current draft lacks both clarity and substance.
“When I look through this bill, I don’t see anything that is scientific about it, and I don’t see any solution preferred. Yes, there’s a need for regulation, but by doing what? There’s a need for education, but by doing what? There’s a need for so many interventions, but by doing what?” he posed.
He urged the Senate to take a more thoughtful and evidence-based approach.
“We may need to withdraw this bill, have a proper study on what is driving this issue, and then come up with scientific solutions.”
Citing his philosophical background, Omtatah asserted with a pointed critique of the bill’s poor construction.
“As a student of Saint Thomas Aquinas, yes, my position is that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. This bill is badly done. We need an intervention for the problems, but this bill is not a solution,” he remarked.
