Some of Kenya’s wealthiest investors are locked in a high-stakes legal battle for control of SportPesa, the country’s most famous online betting brand.
According to The Business Daily, the case, now before the Office of the Registrar of Trademarks, pits shareholder Paul Wanderi Ndung’u, who owns 17% of Pevans East Africa, against CEO Ronald Karauri and allies aligned with Milestone Games. Ndung’u insists the SportPesa brand, quietly transferred first to UK-based SportPesa Global Holdings (SPGHL) and later assigned to Milestone, was moved illegally.
“The trademarks were transferred through fraud, forgery, and deliberate tax evasion,” Ndung’u alleges, pointing to inconsistencies in the deed of assignment, missing approvals, and unpaid stamp duty. He further claims SPGHL was not even registered in Kenya, making the deal void.
At the heart of the contestation is a brand worth billions accumulated from vast interests in online gambling products such as sportsbooks, live betting and online casinos. Founded in 2012, SportPesa quickly dominated Kenya’s betting market, at its peak paying out $1.2 billion (Sh152 billion) in dividends between 2015 and 2019, and securing high-profile sponsorships with English Premier League clubs such as Everton and Hull City. Analysts estimate that Kenya’s gaming industry now generates more than $1.6 billion (approximately Sh200 billion) annually, with SportPesa still its largest player.
However, the empire began to unravel in 2019 when the government revoked Pevans' licence, citing tax arrears running into tens of billions of shillings. Since then, ownership of the SportPesa trademark has been mired in court battles and boardroom rivalries.
Businesswoman Asenath Maina, another Pevans shareholder, has also joined the fight, seeking to claw back profits and restore Pevans as the rightful owner. “Investors cannot stand by while a billion-shilling brand is stripped from its original shareholders,” she told the court.
Industry watchers warn that the drawn-out tussle is eroding confidence. “The market thrives on trust. When a flagship brand like SportPesa is tied up in endless disputes, punters and investors start doubting the safety of their money,” said a Nairobi-based gaming consultant.
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