The Nairobi High Court has blocked higher licensing fees introduced by a recent regulatory overhaul, while allowing most of the Gambling Control (Licensing) Regulations 2026 to remain in place. The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) can now continue regulatory and enforcement activities, while the disputed fee and capital provisions remain suspended pending the outcome of the judicial review.
Justice William Musyoka stated that the main issue raised by the plaintiffs was the significant hike in licensing fees. The judge ruled to block the GRA from imposing the licensing fees until the issue is resolved.
In an initial case, Thomas Buckley Opar Owuor and Ken Brance sued the GRA, the Attorney General and the Prime Cabinet Secretary, alleging the measures would paralyse the industry.
Owuor is the founder of Nairobi-based law firm Buckley Owuor & Co Advocates and previously served as SportPesa’s business development director for nearly three years.
The duo noted that the fees introduced by the legislation range from a 200% increase to a 49,900% increase. Furthermore, the measure was reportedly ‘sneaked’ through Parliament and was not part of what was presented for public consultation.
The court has narrowed an earlier stay that had paused the implementation of the regulations in full.
These developments come against the backdrop of Kenya’s regulatory overhaul. Global Gambling Insider has analysed in detail both the controversial licensing fee hikes and other measures that the court ruled can remain in place.
This new set of gambling regulations marks the most comprehensive regulatory framework to date in Kenya.
The new regulations require online gambling platforms to integrate with the GRA's monitoring systems for continuous oversight
