Hope of bet wins amidst a thrashing economy keeps Kenyans gambling
No platform breathes life into sports betting in Kenya like the media. The media does the work of always reminding visitors of the big wins on jackpots and multi-bets. Not so many pose to self correct about how possibly one can be an overnight millionaire.
Kenyan celebrities too do a lot to promote betting amongst the people. During the world cup premiere in Qatar, our own Jacky Vyke, aka, Awinja surprised netizens with her plane ticket to Qatar. Amid hilarious and breathtaking moments, Awinja announced an itinerary to Qatar for the big ‘Twende Qatar na Odibets’. Eve Mungai, YY comedian, Fred Arocho and more also joined in. The ticket was free, courtesy of, Odibets sponsorship to give them a breathtaking experience of watching the world cup live.
The hope of future winnings makes people keep betting. Even with the current bad economy, people keep betting since they believe that they will win millions from it. Of course everyone wants to be a billionaire if not a millionaire.
Bet winners inspire others to also stake a bet
From what Kenyans watch and read about mega winners of the jackpot. They’ve become dreamers to such big wins. Others put it like, if Moses Kiprono won millions, why not me? Some don’t even realize they are only chasing losses.
We can’t deny that Kenyans are enslaved to betting. In fact, betting has become a way of life for people who feel it’s fairer than what Kenyan job markets offer. The other people who have won millions from betting include Samwel Abisai, Gordon Ogada, and Cosmas Korir
Typical outlook of the current Kenyan job market
Currently, recruitment in Kenya is no longer based on merit. It’s either a ‘know-who-connection’ or chai ya wazee’ thing. Mind you, it’s worse with women when a man, old enough to be your father, asks you to copulate with him before he could employ you. Imagine in a position, you are qualified for academically. It hurts.
Such stories hit headlines in the backstreet newspapers and even on YouTube channels like TUKO news. Kenyan mubabas have become mafisi with an excessive appetite for young Kenyan women. Sad is how some fall into their traps, and do the doing. But no job in the end.
Moreover, it is not funny anymore to see well-dressed graduates walking in town. They carry handwritten billboard-like structures full of their job description to whoever may help. For instance, Standard Digital has aired many people who opt to do that instead of sexing around with old fools in the name of company managers. Sometimes betting remains to be the only fending option left. Especially if we mean to talk of a country rotten like such.
Betting as a survival tactic for jobless youths
Bearing the brunt of the hard Kenyan economy is not piece of cake to the common mwananchi. You know when on campus, the fantasy of getting a well-paying job after completion of studies keeps many going. Once you are off campus, the truth hits you hard to remind you that, ‘kwa ground vitu ni different’.
After graduating, most parents feel you are old enough to sort your bills single-handedly without complaining. Sometimes they’d expect you to send them something small end-month. At least for appreciation after they’ve schooled you.
Now the bitter part is how many youths don’t even have jobs to fend for themselves. Leave alone extra cash to send back home. In that poor state, the only thing such a person will think of once they get hold of money is betting. With the hope that perhaps the cash will multiply once they’ve won to somehow sort part of their aimlessly pilling bills.
The betting industry is worth billions of Kenyan shillings. It has made some Kenyans rich which is good. For instance, the ones who have won millions have invested them in other things and even further employed kenyans. Is this not a good way of creating employment?
Kenyan economy promotes endless betting
One of the greatest rules for responsible gambling is to do it for fun. Don’t take it as a job. However, how will someone who’s wagered the last of his fifty bob, expect its fun bit? Of course, they suppose the amount should double to slash off a bill for the day.
While many gamblers out here do it to imitate the acquisition of quick wealth, Kenyans don’t. You know why, to them, betting is one legitimate way to fend for oneself. They believe that it can literally cater for all needs from food, rent, clothing…name it.
Just the other day Kenyans went striking for the pinching economy. Something that started as an Azimio thing got supporters from the other wing too. This time it wasn’t politics as usual. It was about rooftop pricing with basic commodities. From the look of things, betting will not stop any soon in Kenyan society. They do it to make ends meet.
Advising Kenyans against betting
Talking betting out of a financially suffering Kenyan is nearly impossible. Yes, they wish to stop, more so, when it’s already posing negative consequences. But what next, since their lives depend on it? Before you start talking anyone out of betting, have some earning sources on standby. With that, they’ll listen to you, but if not, forget it.
Kenyans bet because they do not have other sources of income. They will bet from morning till evening with the hopes of winning. Apart from making losses, betting drains them emotionally. For instance, one can wait for a team playing at midnight to finish its game to be sure that one wins the placed bet.
