Kenya Gaming Operators Raise Alarm Over Regulator’s Paybill Threats

The Association of Gaming Operators Kenya (AGOK) has warned of communications allegedly sent through Safaricom by the regulator, threatening to switch gambling operators’ Paybills on September 24.

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The matter came up during court proceedings on September 21 in Judicial Review E251 of 2026, which challenges Kenya’s new gambling licensing framework.

AGOK noted that the court observed that existing status quo orders were meant to prevent such threats or adverse action, and advised that the regulator should be guided accordingly by its counsel.

The hearing also dealt with pending filings. Counsel for the petitioner told the court that the respondents had not yet filed their response to the substantive motion, meaning the petitioner’s submissions were still outstanding.

The court gave the respondents three days to file their response, after which the petitioner would have three days to submit a supplementary affidavit if needed. Respondents would then have three more days to file their submissions. The court confirmed that October 2, 2026 remains the date for its ruling, according to Focus Gaming News.

Kenya’s 2026 gambling reform also in contention

The legal fight over Kenya’s gambling reforms goes beyond Paybill disputes. The September 21 proceedings are part of a wider challenge to the Gambling Control (Licensing) Regulations, 2026, brought by Thomas Buckley Opar Owuor and Ken Brance against the Prime Cabinet Secretary, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya, and the Attorney General.

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Safaricom and AGOK have been drawn into the matter as interested parties because of their role in payment services.

At the heart of the challenge are the Gambling Control (Licensing) Regulations, 2026. The applicants argue that the new licence fees and capital requirements are unlawful.

The High Court first suspended the regulations in July, but later narrowed that order in August so that only the fee increases and capital rules remained frozen. Other provisions were allowed to take effect, and the regulator was permitted to continue processing licence applications while the case moved forward. 

The Paybill dispute connects directly to these reforms. The conduct regulations introduced in 2026 require payment service providers to obtain regulatory approval before processing gambling transactions, placing mobile‑money channels under tighter control. 

With the ruling set for October 2, 2026, the court’s decision will determine how far these reforms can be enforced. 

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