Kenya MPs reject gambling tax hike

The legislators voted against the measure that would’ve increased all gambling taxes to 50 percent.

Kenya.- Members of the Parliament of Kenya voted against the gambling tax that would’ve increased the percentage that operators have to pay from 7.5 percent to 50 percent in all categories.

Kenya’s National Assembly rejected the plan, therefore betting operators will continue paying 7.5 percent, gaming operators 12 percent, lotteries 5 percent and prize competitions 15 percent, just like they did until now, a period that brought many questions. Las week, the parliament voted in favor to only apply the increase to gaming, lottery and other revenues, and keep a 7.5 percent rate for betting, but lawmakers called for a second vote on the issue. Clauses 26, 27, 28 and 29 of the Finance Bill were discussed yesterday.

Henry Rotich, Treasury Secretary, declared that the hikes were also meant to discourage gamblers from having problems. “The expansion of the industry has had negative social effects on society, especially on the youths and vulnerable members of the society,” he said back in March, after announcing the raise.