The government has destroyed a total of 112 slot coin lottery machines worth Sh. 2.2 million in its crackdown on illegal gaming businesses in Kericho County.
Kericho County Commissioner Mr. Kamau Karungo who led the exercise of setting ablaze the illegal machines at the Kericho Police Station said law enforcement officers impounded the machines from Londiani, Soin-Sigowet, Bureti, Kericho East, and Belgut Sub-Counties.
Karungo declared that they will not relent in the fight against the illegal gaming businesses which have left a trail of destruction through players’ addiction, a majority of whom are men.
The County Commissioner stressed that the government will not allow illegal gaming activities to take root in the County and especially during the festive season noting that many families have ended up in abject poverty due to the addiction to illegal gambling games.
“I urge members of the public to continue reporting to police when they spot the coin slot lottery machines within their estates and villages since we understand there are unscrupulous persons hiding them even in their houses,” said Karungo.
Meanwhile, he intimated that the 100 days of Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) crackdown on illicit brews within the county had been launched with the objective of destroying illicit brew dens and arresting persons engaging in the business which he said had ruined homes due to drunkenness.
“We will ensure that no part of Kericho County has an illicit brew den. We will not allow that illegal activity to thrive in this county,” warned Karungo.
The County Commissioner also urged parents to protect their girls during the Christmas holidays warning against illegal practices such as Female Genital Mutilation that endanger the lives of young girls and women.
“We will arrest and prosecute anyone who tries FGM on our girls here. We need to protect our girls and respect our women,” said Karungo.
Karungo was accompanied by the Kericho East Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Stephen Orinde, the Kericho County Police Commander Riko Ngare, and the Kericho East Deputy Police Commander Abdi Malicha.
By Kibe Mburu
