The government has broken its silence following a bombshell exposé by NTV that revealed how a self-proclaimed prophet has been using TV airwaves to con Kenyans through fake jackpot games.

In a statement issued on Monday, May 26, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) confirmed it had already flagged several broadcasters, among them stations owned by the implicated preacher, for violating licensing regulations related to gambling promotions.

Exposé triggers public outcry and calls for action

The exposé, titled #SacredSwindle, lifted the veil on a growing scam that has left many Kenyans financially and emotionally devastated.

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“The authority acknowledges the gravity of the allegations highlighted in the exposé and the concerns regarding the exploitation of religious platforms to advance unregulated betting promotions disguised as faith-based initiatives,” the CA stated.

The NTV investigation revealed a shocking pattern where viewers were tricked into sending small amounts of money, starting from as little as Sh 10, for a chance to win jackpots ranging from Sh 50,000 to Sh 200,000. But instead of winning, participants were drawn into an endless spiral of fake bidding wars against phantom competitors.

Worse still, the ‘winners’ announced on live TV were allegedly employees of the stations or made up individuals, coached in advance on how to act surprised and grateful during staged phone calls.

Outraged Kenyans flooded social media with calls for urgent regulation, many questioning how such schemes had managed to operate unchecked for so long. “Criminals need to be called out!” one user posted.

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“Where are CA and BCLB in all this?”

CA says 33 broadcasters had already been flagged

But according to the CA, action had already begun behind the scenes before the exposé aired.

“Through our continuous license monitoring efforts, we had identified violations by 33 broadcasters, including Yahweh’s Media Services Limited and its affiliate stations,” the statement revealed.

On March 13, 2025, the Authority issued formal Notices of Violation to all 33 broadcasters involved. This was followed by a sector-wide advisory on April 23, instructing all broadcasters to cease gambling-related advertisements.

The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) also issued a 30-day suspension of such ads on April 29, the same day the CA moved to suspend non-compliant broadcasters.

However, CA says some broadcasters blatantly ignored these warnings.

“A review by the Authority in the second week of May 2025 revealed continued airing of prohibited content,” it said, warning that eight of the defiant broadcasters have now been slapped with a Sh 500,000 fine each and given a 12-hour ultimatum to comply or risk further sanctions, including license revocation.

The exposé hit particularly hard because of its religious undertones. The preacher in question, a prominent televangelist, allegedly used spiritual messaging to win trust and manipulate viewers into parting with their money, often during faith-based programs or movie screenings spliced with “giveaway” segments.

The revelations prompted many to accuse rogue religious entities of weaponizing faith to rob desperate citizens under the guise of blessings and miracles. Several people shared stories of losing as much as Sh 5,000 in hours, hoping to win cash to pay school fees or cover rent.

Meanwhile, former gambling addict turned counselor, Harrison Mwaura, urged society to take gambling addiction seriously.

“It’s not about irresponsibility,” he said. “It’s a mental health issue. Until we recognize that, people will continue being exploited.”

The CA has reiterated its commitment to responsible broadcasting and praised investigative journalism for spotlighting unethical practices.

“While we support media freedom, broadcasters must uphold the law and safeguard the public interest,” the Authority said.

However, a section of Kenyans faulted the Communications Authority for what they termed as incompetence, arguing that as the sector regulator with the necessary tools and mandate, it should have acted swiftly to stop the fraudulent schemes before they escalated.