Police have confiscated about 200 betting machines valued at Sh11.9 million at a house believed to be an assembly plant in the outskirts of Embu town.
The owner of the apartment was also arrested during Friday’s raid led by the County Commissioner Esther Maina, County police boss Cyrus Gichunge and several other security officers.
Maina said a Chinese national who had rented the one floor apartment for use in the illegal business fled after police stormed the house.
The county security team now suspects that the Chinese used to rent the machines out during the day, to be returned later in the evening, since some had money inside them.
The county commissioner said they are holding the owner of the building to help them track the suspect, adding that all the recovered machines will be destroyed.
She put on notice landlords whose houses are used as storage of the gambling machines that they will be arrested and charged with abetting crime.
Maina called on landlords housing foreigners to liaise with the security officers so as to establish the businesses that they are doing in the region.
The county commissioner said war against gambling has been heightened to involve door to door searches covering all business premises.
“Landlords whose houses are used to store these machines will face the law. We are not relenting and anyone found with the machines or as an accomplice will be charged,” she said.
Last week, security agencies in Eastern region led by Regional Commissioner Wycliffe Ogallo seized 192 gambling machines valued at Sh13million from an assembly plant in Itabua area, Embu West Sub County.
Two people, including a Chinese businessman were arrested with Ogallo sounding a warning that anyone found engaging in the betting business or abetting crime will be arrested and charged.
He also put on notice police officers and national government officials in the region found abetting this illegal business that they risked being sacked.
By Muoki Charles
