betPawa suffers setback as court declines to renew licence

Betting Company –Betpawa has lost a bid to have government decision that cancelled its license lifted.

This is after High Court Judge Weldon Korir said the court has to hear all the parties in the case before issuing the orders sought.

“I do not find it just and proper to issue interim any orders, let parties file and serve their responses …matter to be heard on the July 26,” the court ruled.

Betpawa through its lawyer submmited that no prejudice will be suffered by the Betting and Gaming Control Board if they are issued the operationalisation licenses as they wait to argue the main case.

“Betpawa is a legitimate business in Kenya and was given the license by the government and prior to its license expiry it applied to have the license renewed,” the court was told.

According to BetPawa, business has been affected by the government decision and if the temporary orders are not granted then they will continue suffering.

However, lawyer representing the Board said that they are yet to file their responses and prayed for three days to put in their papers.

The board however opposed to the application saying that it will not be fair for orders to be issues when they have not put in their responses.

“We oppose the issuance of any orders…..we do not find it just and proper to issue interim any orders,” BGCB submitted.

betPawa has moved to court seeking to temporarily suspend a decision that cancelled its operational license.

betPawa is among betting firms whose licenses were recently cancelled by the government for allegedly failing to renew operational permits.

In court papers filed on Monday, betPawa wants to be allowed to continue utilizing its pay bill numbers and short codes without any interference by the Betting Control and Licenses Board (BCLB) pending hearing and determination of the case.

“Pending the hearing and determination of the petition, the court to issue order temporarily suspending the board letter dated July 10, 2019 addressed to Safaricom Limited,” reads court papers.