JOOUST Professor of curriculum and entrepreneurship education Joseph Bosire (standing in white shirt) during the gambling harm stakeholders engagement workshop in Bondo/KNA
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) is working on a policy framework to regulate and promote responsible gambling among students and staff in institutions of higher learning.
The move comes after the latest research findings revealed the varsity community had become gullible to the temptations of engaging in gambling activities out of desperation to make quick money.
The proposed gambling harm intervention policy aims at promoting responsible gambling and shield the varsity fraternity from such harmful practices and ensuring that students only focused on their academic studies.
It entails a raft of measures that the institution of higher learning aims to implement to promote responsible gambling activities within university compounds.
Last year, JOOUST released a research report whose findings revealed that at least 70 per cent of students at the institution involved in gambling activities were on the verge of addiction, stress and had suicidal tendencies.
The research also indicated that over 30 per cent of academic staff were engaged in gambling, which affected their productivity.
According to the gambling harms report, students used money from HELB to gamble more than money they earned from menial jobs leading to non-payment of school fees.
The recommendations of the research, which was funded by the Bristol hub is set to be distributed to other learning institution including the University of Nairobi, Bristol University in the UK, University of Lagos and the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
Speaking during the stakeholder engagement forum, Jooust University Professor of Curriculum of entrepreneurship education Joseph Bosire disclosed that they have secured an additional 6,000 pounds to develop a policy that will be cascaded to all universities in the
Prof Bosire underscored the importance of the policy to regulate gambling at the institutions, saying it will boost both students’ performance and the productivity of the academic staff.
Bosire disclosed that among the proposed interventions to regulate gambling within the university was the use of ICT and plans to partner with HELB for direct fee payment amid calls to lobby for a review of weak gambling laws in the country.
“The policy on how to mitigate gambling harm effects is just a single intervention; we also have counselling and mentorship programs, and we are considering the use of technology and firewalls to regulate gambling within the university,” Bosire remarked.
Prof Bosire observed that gambling is not illegal in the country, and the university’s role is to promote responsible gambling and not eradicate it.
Gambling Regulatory Authority Assistant Director Oluoch Oyucho who graced the occasion commended the varsity for the research on gambling harm effects, adding that the findings would inform key policy decisions to regulate gambling in institutions of higher learning.
Oluoch disclosed that the gambling regulatory authority is ready to work with the university and other stakeholders in the country to mitigate the harmful effects of gambling.
He, however, refuted recent media reports to the effect that some people allegedly committed suicide after losing gambling bets saying such cases cannot be expressly linked to gambling activities unless proven otherwise.
“As an Authority, we have learnt through the media about suicide cases in the country linked to gambling. I want to say that the reports cannot be substantiated,” said Oluoch.
According to the Betting Control and Licensing Board, there were 99 registered gaming companies in the country with the government estimated to have collected Sh24.6 billion in taxes from gaming companies in 2024.