Kenya National Lottery Board Targets Official Launch and Operations by End 2027
Dr Farida Karoney, chair Kenya National Lottery Board, intends to have a functional lottery by the end of 2027 and plans to invite international bids for the national lottery before the end of 2027.
The projected lottery would allow both online and physical participation, and the money raised will be used to support national public-benefit initiatives.
According to Karoney, the proposed lottery would represent Kenya’s priorities while drawing from other international models. The proceeds would be used to fund community development, sport, research, and social investment. Also, she anticipates that the international tender will be issued by the end of 2026. The board will then choose an operator via Kenya’s procurement process.
The successful operator must set up a base in Kenya, install the required technology and hire personnel before ticket sales. Karoney anticipates that the nation will have a working lottery by the end of the 2027 calendar year, but she acknowledged that these stages will take time.
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Additionally, the board is conducting a nationwide survey of to find out how Kenyans feel about the proposed lottery, what games they would like to play and how much they might spend. Karoney anticipates that the study will be accessible prior to the operator tender and stated that it may offer valuable insights for other gaming industry players.
In August, the board appointed a transaction-advisory consortium to draft contracts and tender documents. RSM Eastern Africa and QLOT Consulting from Sweden are the two consortiums and they advises the board on procurement procedure.
In preparation for the launch, the board is expanding its institutional capabilities. According to Karoney, the National Lottery Act came into effect in December 2023. She was appointed chair in August 2024, and the other directors were appointed in late 2024. The board has established an enterprise management system, created its strategy, and established a framework for human resources. Recruitment for the remaining staff members is anticipated to start in late December or early January, with the aim of completing the management team before the end of 2026.
