Kenya's Gambling Regulatory Authority has published a list of 11 gambling companies licensed for 2026/27, in a letter to Safaricom's chief executive dated 2 November. The list covers only firms licensed so far and the regulator says it will be updated.
A letter to Safaricom
The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) wrote to Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa on 2 November, a report says. The letter names the companies that have met the licensing rules and received licences for the 2026/27 financial year. For each one it gives the trading name, the licence number and the approved paybill number.
Paybills matter because many Kenyan players deposit through M-Pesa. A paybill on the approved list tells Safaricom, and players, that a company is licensed to take their money.
The GRA also repeated Section 28(1) of the Gambling Control Act, 2025. It bars any person or company from offering gambling services without the right licence. The authority says the list will be updated "on a regular basis" as new licences are issued.
Only 11 so far
The number stands out. Eleven companies is far below last year's figures. In July 2025 the former regulator, the Betting Control and Licensing Board, announced 99 licensed betting companies for 2025/26. The GRA's own licensed operators page still shows the 2025/26 register, with entries numbered up to 188.
We cannot say what the gap means. The letter appears to list companies licensed under the new rules so far, not every operator that may lawfully trade, and the GRA has said more names will follow. Players should not assume that a company missing from an 11-name list is unlicensed. They should check it against the GRA's register.
A new licensing system
The GRA replaced the BCLB under the Gambling Control Act, 2025, and its licensing regulations were published on its website in June. Fees and capital rules under the new system have been a source of dispute with operators.
Also Read: Kenya Sportsbook Licence Fees in 2026 and What the GRA Charges
Also Read: Kenya Betting Rules 2026: Licence Fees, 5% Excise, 20% Tax
What we could not confirm
We found only one report of the letter. We have not seen the letter itself, and that report shows the list in a form we could not read. We did not find the letter on the GRA's licensed operators page. We will update this report when the full list is public.
For players, the simplest habit is the safest one: before you deposit, look up the company on the GRA website and make sure the paybill belongs to a licensed name.
Frequently asked questions
How many companies are on the new list?
Eleven, according to the report on the GRA's letter of 2 November. The regulator says the list will be updated.
Why was the letter sent to Safaricom?
It gives approved paybill numbers, which operators use to take M-Pesa deposits. The reports do not say more about why Safaricom was chosen.
Where can I check if a company is licensed?
On the licensed operators page of the Gambling Regulatory Authority, at gra.go.ke.
Information, not legal advice. 18+ only. Gamble responsibly.
