JOOUST unveils new gambling harm intervention policy for students and staff
The new policy promotes responsible gambling rather than a complete ban, since gambling is legal in Kenya.
Kenya.- Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) is developing a Gambling Harm Intervention Policy to address gambling issues among students and staff. The move follows findings from the Gambling Effects Among Vulnerable Groups in Public Universities in Kenya (GEPU) project, which revealed that 70 per cent of students involved in gambling showed signs of addiction, stress and thoughts of self-harm, with more than 30 per cent of academic staff reporting reduced productivity due to gambling.
The GEPU study, funded by a seedcorn grant from the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research at the University of Bristol, focused on vulnerable groups including students from low-income families, people with disabilities and junior employees.
Researchers used surveys, focus group discussions and interviews to identify harms. They found that many students used Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds for betting rather than paying fees, which led to unpaid tuition and increased financial and emotional strain. Staff participation also affected teaching and research responsibilities.
Gregory Jumah Nyongesa from JOOUST’s department of special needs education and early childhood development led the project. In December 2024, JOOUST’s Prof. Pamela Raburu visited the Bristol Hub to discuss results, reporting gambling rates of 70–75 per cent among third-year students and connections to lower academic performance, damaged relationships, and mental health difficulties.
At a stakeholder forum held on January 20, JOOUST outlined the new policy, which promotes responsible gambling rather than a complete ban, since gambling is legal in Kenya. Planned measures include counselling and mentorship programs, technology such as firewalls to restrict on-campus access and collaboration with HELB for direct fee deductions from loans to prevent misuse.
The university also intends to establish a gambling harm intervention centre for students, staff and community members, introduce stricter fee payment deadlines and offer a financial literacy course for first-year students.
Speaking at the forum, Professor Joseph Bosire, a curriculum and entrepreneurship education expert at JOOUST, said: “The policy on how to mitigate gambling harm effects is just a single intervention; we also have counselling and mentorship programs, and we are considering the use of technology and firewalls to regulate gambling within the university.”
Bosire added that the measures are expected to improve student performance while enabling staff to maintain higher productivity. He also called for revisions to Kenya’s gambling laws.
