Leading betting company, SportPesa, has cancelled all the sponsorship arrangements it has with Kenyan sports teams.
The gaming firm, which controls a bulk of the Kenyan betting population, says “extremely challenging business environment for the past couple of months, has brought immense pressure on the business, necessitating a reavaluation of some plans”.
“In light of these developments, we regrettably wish to announce that due to uncertainty of this situation, SportPesa will be cancelling sports sponsorship effective immediately,” says the firm in a press statement released Friday, August 9.
Sportpesa is among the 27 betting firms in Kenya whose operating licenses were not renewed by July 1 over claims of tax evasion.
In Kenya, Sportpesa sponsors, among other teams, local football champions Gor Mahia and their bitter rivals AFC Leopards.
The firm also sponsors local men’s football league, the Kenya Premier League.
More to follow