The GEPU study, funded by a seedcorn grant from the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research<\/strong> at the University of Bristol<\/strong>, focused on vulnerable groups including students from low-income families, people with disabilities and junior employees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Researchers used surveys, focus group discussions and interviews to identify harms. They found that many students used Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gregory Jumah Nyongesa<\/strong> from JOOUST\u2019s department of special needs education and early childhood development led the project. In December 2024<\/strong>, JOOUST\u2019s Prof. Pamela Raburu <\/strong>visited the Bristol Hub to discuss results, reporting gambling rates of 70\u201375 per cent a<\/strong>mong third-year students and connections to lower academic performance, damaged relationships, and mental health difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a stakeholder forum held on January 20<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking at the forum, Professor Joseph Bosire<\/strong>, a curriculum and entrepreneurship education expert at JOOUST, said: \u201cThe 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s gambling laws.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/467b3f48-ce6b-45ed-a039-57c32d4796aa-900x600-300x200.jpg\")
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