More than 100 Gambling machines destroyed in Machakos

MACHAKOS, Kenya, Nov, 26 – Law enforcement officers in Machakos county Thursday burnt 172 illegal gambling machines that had been seized across several business premises in the county.

The illegal gambling machines which are manufactured in China nicknamed “Tunyonde” by local residents are blamed to be the cause of moral decadence by youth particularly now when schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

The exercise was conducted on Wednesday and Thursday when county security committee enforcement teams identified several business premises that are said to be harbouring the illegal gaming machines.

“The people of Machakos say that these machines are destroying their community, in fact they are the ones that identified where the machines were and informed police officers who later seized them,” Machakos county commissioner Fredrick Ndunga said.

The county security committee also revealed to Shahido News that the business premises operating the illegal gaming machines were also used by youth to allegedly indulge in underage drinking and drug abuse.

“Officers will continue with the crackdown on illegal gaming machines. Residents have complained to us that their children have now almost become slaves of these premises. Some have even been arrested after engaging in crime to satisfy their gambling addiction,” he said.

Meanwhile the county commissioner warned officers against colluding with operators of gambling machines in Machakos.

“They will tells us whether they want to be police officers or want to engage in gambling,” he asserted.

Residents welcomed the destruction of the illegal machines.

“Some of our children are even stealing from us to go and gamble. Others have now started smoking bhang at these gambling locations.” said a resident.

“I am constantly worried about my children because of these menace. We will burn all of them at this rate,” Erastus Mutunga, parent added.

The government banned the importation of gaming machines in 2017.