Kenya targets functional lottery by end of 2027 as operator tender nears
Kenya’s National Lottery Board plans to use lottery proceeds to fund public-benefit projects, while pursuing international expertise to establish a model built around social investment and responsible gambling.
Key takeaways:
- Kenya plans to invite international bids for its national lottery operator before the end of 2026.
- National Lottery Board chair Dr Farida Karoney targets a functional lottery by the end of 2027.
- The proposed lottery will combine physical tickets and digital participation.
- Proceeds are intended to support five public-benefit areas, including emergency response, research and economic empowerment.
- A national survey will examine public attitudes, preferred games and likely spending before the tender.
Kenya.- Kenya plans to invite international bids for its national lottery operator before the end of 2026, with National Lottery Board chair Dr Farida Karoney targeting a functional lottery by the end of 2027. The proposed lottery will combine physical and digital participation, with proceeds intended to fund public-benefit projects across the country.
Speaking on KBC Channel One’s Inside Government, National Lottery Board chair Dr Farida Karoney said the board wanted to bring leading international expertise into the project. “We want to attract the best players in the lottery space globally,” she said, according to the interview transcript.
Karoney said the proposed lottery would draw on different international models while reflecting Kenya’s priorities, with proceeds intended to support social investment, research, sport and community development.
The board appointed a transaction-advisory consortium in August to prepare tender documents and contracts. The consortium comprises RSM Eastern Africa and Sweden’s QLOT Consulting, which are advising the board on the procurement process.
Karoney expects the international tender to be issued before the end of 2026, after which the board will follow Kenya’s procurement process to select an operator.
The successful operator will need to establish a base in Kenya, deploy the necessary technology and recruit staff before ticket sales can begin. Karoney said these steps would take time but expects the country to have a functional lottery by the end of the 2027 calendar year. She did not confirm a specific date for the first ticket sales.
The board intends to offer both physical and digital participation, accommodating people who prefer buying a physical ticket while also creating opportunities for digitally delivered games.
What will Kenya’s national lottery proceeds fund?
The lottery’s proceeds are intended to support five areas: emergency response, economic empowerment, research and innovation, arts and culture, and transformational national projects. Potential uses include agricultural and medical research, scholarships, healthcare, sustainable business initiatives and affordable housing.
Karoney said funding applications would be assessed through an open and competitive process. She described the intended community benefits as extending beyond individual winners, with lottery proceeds helping fund projects that serve the public.“Even if they didn’t win by buying a ticket, they won because a hospital was built in their community,” she said.
The board is also conducting a national survey to understand how Kenyans view the proposed lottery, which games they would prefer and how much they might spend. Karoney expects the research to be available before the operator tender and said it could provide useful information for other participants in the gaming sector.
The board is building its institutional capacity as it prepares for the launch. Karoney said the National Lottery Act came into effect in December 2023, while she was appointed chair around August 2024 and the other directors were appointed towards the end of that year. The board has developed its strategy and human-resources framework and introduced an enterprise management system. It aims to complete its management team before the end of 2026, with recruitment for the remaining staff expected to begin around late December or early January.
Responsible-gambling safeguards are also planned. Karoney said the board intends to exclude people under 18, provide self-exclusion options and potentially use artificial intelligence to identify problematic play and temporarily restrict access. The lottery could also support frameworks for people experiencing gambling-related problems.
Karoney cautioned players against using money intended for school fees, savings or investments to buy lottery tickets, stressing that the game should not be treated as a route to wealth.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- When will Kenya’s national lottery start operating? Kenya aims to have a functional national lottery by the end of the 2027 calendar year, according to National Lottery Board chair Dr Farida Karoney.
- How will Kenya select its national lottery operator? The National Lottery Board plans to issue an international tender before the end of 2026, followed by Kenya’s usual procurement process to select an operator.
- Will Kenya’s national lottery offer online games? Yes. The proposed model will combine digital games with physical tickets, allowing players to participate through either channel.
- Who will benefit from Kenya’s national lottery proceeds? Funding is intended for public-benefit projects across five areas: emergency response, economic empowerment, research and innovation, arts and culture, and transformational national projects.
