NLB chair says Kenya lottery procurement must build institutional capacity
Dr Farida Karoney says expertise gained during the operator selection should remain within the National Lottery Board after external advisers complete their assignment.
Kenya.- The integrity of Kenya’s first National Lottery will depend not only on the operator eventually selected but also on how the procurement process is designed and managed, National Lottery Board (NLB) chair Dr Farida Karoney has said.
Speaking during the programme announcing the NLB’s Transaction Advisor, Karoney said the Board’s approach was intended to ensure that the procurement builds lasting expertise within Kenya rather than leaving the institution dependent on external consultants.
Her remarks came as the NLB moves ahead with the procurement of Kenya’s first National Lottery operator following the appointment of an RSM Eastern Africa-led consortium, including Sweden-based QLOT Consulting, as Transaction Advisor.
Karoney said RSM Eastern Africa was selected for its understanding of Kenya’s public-sector institutions and its experience in transaction advisory, governance and institutional strengthening. She noted that the firm’s familiarity with Kenya’s legal environment, fiscal conditions and public institutions would provide the local expertise needed to navigate the procurement.
QLOT Consulting, meanwhile, brings international lottery-sector experience to the consortium. Karoney described the company as an associate member of the World Lottery Association and said it had advised on national lottery procurements in international markets.
The two firms will provide the Board with a combination of local institutional knowledge and international lottery procurement experience. Karoney said: “We are not buying advice. We are building capacity for our country.”
From structuring to financial close
According to Karoney, the Transaction Advisor’s role will cover the procurement process from transaction structuring through to financial close and operator readiness.
The consortium will assist the Board with concession structuring and legal, financial and technical advisory work required to advance the transaction.
Its responsibilities will also include cybersecurity standards, market engagement, evaluation of prospective operators, contracting and financial close.
Karoney also highlighted knowledge transfer as a key part of the engagement. She said expertise gained during the procurement should remain within the NLB after the advisers complete their assignment, enabling the Board to strengthen its capacity to oversee the National Lottery.
