BY SAM ALFAN.
Betting Control and Licensing Board has filed application seeking to set aside orders issued restraining the board from interfering or stopping Sportpesa to continue to trade after June 30.
The board under certificate of urgency claim that the orders issued exparte are perpetuate an illegality in favour of Pevan East Africa Limited trading as Sportpesa.
The board urged the court to discharge , vary or set aside the conservatory orders issued on the June 28 this year.
“The illegality in question is that despite the petitioner’s (Sportpesa) bookmarks license having expired in accordance with section 9 of the betting, lotteries and Gaming Act. Cap . 131 of the laws of Kenya, the impugned conservatory orders have effectively ousted the betting board’s statutory authority and renewed the Petitioner’s bookmakers expired license”, said the board.
Justice Weldon Korir issued conservatory orders restraining the Betting Control and Licensing from interfering with sportpesa operations after June 30.
They argue that under the law , only the the board is lawfully permitted to issue , vary , canc or renew such licenses.
It added that the orders issued allowing Sportpesa to continue operating after June 30 does not promote the rule of law since they were issued in due consideration of all the applicable principles and the law.
They argue that there is no authority under the seal of Pevan East Africa Limited trading as Sportpesa company that has been availed before court authorizing Ronald Karauri and Robert Macharia or anybody to swear affidavit on the company behalf.
