Dr. Jane Mwikali Makau has once again placed Kenya on the continental map with yet another major victory at the 2025 Gaming Tech Summit.
As Chairperson of the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), her leadership has helped Kenya outshine 21 other African countries to win two prestigious awards: Best CSR Initiatives Promoter in Africa and Best CSR Regulator in Africa.
These awards are not just shiny trophies they are proof that change is happening in Kenya’s gaming sector, and that it is being led with purpose, discipline, and a strong sense of public duty.
Dr. Mwikali, who took over BCLB at a time when the gaming industry was facing criticism from all sides, has helped clean up a space once seen as chaotic and exploitative.
Her reforms have shown that gambling doesn’t have to be a public health threat. Instead, it can be regulated in a way that protects citizens and empowers communities.
Through her policies, BCLB has banned harmful advertising, removed rogue operators, and introduced digital tools to help people self-exclude from betting platforms.
These are not just rules on paper they are policies saving lives and protecting families.Winning these awards at the Gaming Tech Summit was not a surprise to those who’ve been watching her work.
Under her guidance, BCLB has become a model for how ethical governance and community engagement can reshape an entire industry. Her strategy has always combined regulation with compassion.
That’s why under her leadership, BCLB created the Gambling Recovery and Empowerment Initiative, which now runs 14 rehabilitation centers across the country. These centers don’t just help people recover from gambling addiction they give them the tools to rebuild their lives through counselling and financial training.Dr. Mwikali also understands that prevention is just as important as recovery.
That’s why she worked with the Ministry of Education to create a school curriculum module that now reaches over 2 million students a year, teaching them the risks of betting early on. Her focus has always been long-term.
She once said that entertainment must never become enslavement, and she has backed that up with action.Receiving these two awards at a continental level confirms that the reforms in Kenya are not just working they are being noticed.
In her own words, “This victory is not just a win for BCLB it’s a win for Kenya and a testament to what purposeful leadership and collective commitment can achieve.” Dr. Mwikali has shown that you don’t have to make noise to lead.
You just need to stay committed, listen to the people, and lead with integrity.
Congratulations to Dr. Jane Mwikali Makau, the entire BCLB board, the Secretariat, and all the stakeholders who have stood by the vision. Africa is watching, and Kenya is showing what’s possible.
