Editor's Review

"Please talk to me before you make such statements,” Karauri to Itumbi.

Sportpesa CEO Ronald Karauri has dismissed allegations by Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi over the awarding of a licence to the betting firm.

Itumbi on Thursday, August 18, alleged that the licence was awarded to a family cabal claiming that it was theft of intellectual property.

“The Kenyatta Family last days at the Presidency. SportPesa licence awarded to a Family cabal in what is a clear theft of intellectual property,” Itumbi said.

However, in a swift response to the digital strategist, the Kasarani MP-elect said that the story was fake adding that Itumbi should have asked him about it.

Dennis Itumbi.

“Hi Itumbi, the SportPesa story you’ve been fed is fake, and whoever has been telling it has already been sued. Please talk to me before you make such statements,” Karauri stated.

The government in July cleared 11 betting companies to get licences for the financial year 2022/2023.

In a letter to the Communications Authority of Kenya CEO Ezra Chiloba dated July 4, BCLB chairman Cyrus Maina said that the companies had been scrutinized and were eligible to get the licences.

In the letter, which was copied to Interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i, SportPesa was not among the list of the cleared betting companies.

The companies cleared to get licences were as follows:

1. Betika

2. Odibets

3. Dafabet

4. Bangbet

5. Kilibet

6. Kwik Bet

7. Sportika

8. Betviva

9. Scorepesa

10. A Kick-off Sports Bar

11. Betafriq