Ruto taskforce on creation of National Lottery calls for public participation

The Presidential Taskforce on the creation of a National Lottery has invited stakeholders and members of the public to submit views on a proposed policy and draft bills even as it races with time to deliver on its mandate.

The draft National Lottery bill, Gambling Policy and Gambling Control Bill (2023) have already been published with Kenyans now required to scrutinise and submit their views.

An advertisement in a local daily by the taskforce calls for submissions either hard or soft copies in a provided template.

“In line with the constitutional imperative of ensuring wide consultation and public participation, the taskforce invites institutions, organisations and individuals to submit their comments on the policy and Bills,”

– the notice from chairperson Narendra Raval and his vice Gideon Thuranira reads.

The comments and submission, it states, can be hand-delivered to the Secretariat at the KICC business centre or emailed. The team has further planned county-based public engagement meetings from April 11- 21.

“Participation by all stakeholders is encouraged including the private sector, civil society groups, NGOs, professional bodies, persons with disabilities and faith-based organizations, women and youth,” – the notice further reads.

For Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajiado, residents will converge at KICC on April 11 while Machakos, Kitui and Makueni will meet at the Machakos social hall on April 13 and 14.

At the Coast, meeting venues will be Malindi and Mombasa on April 17-21 respectively, Rift valley (Eldoret, Nakuru and Bomet) on April 13-21.

While the Lottery Bill seeks to establish the National Lottery, Lottery Board and Lottery Fund, the gambling control bill will majorly be on regulation of the industry.

President William Ruto created the team through a Gazette notice dated February 17 for a three-month period. Raval heads the steering committee while Linda Musumba chairs the technical committee.

Its mandate includes undertaking a comprehensive review of the best practices on the establishment of national lotteries in other jurisdictions and developing the policy and implementation plan that will guide the establishment and operationalisation of the National Lottery in Kenya, among other tasks.

A breakdown of how the revenue proceeds will be shared shows that 50 per cent will go to prizes while 38 per cent is set for good causes.

Operator’s profit, tax, retailers, marketing and operating costs take 10 per cent while gambling regulator and lottery board operations are both assigned one per cent. From the 38 per cent, it has been proposed that up to 40 per cent will be channeled to charitable causes such as poverty, education, healthcare and vulnerable groups, 30 per cent to economic empowerment, and 20 per cent to sports, arts, culture, recreation and national heritage. Signature transformation group projects takes eight per cent while two per cent goes to emergency fund.

Source: the-star.co.ke

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