A controversy has emerged over a lottery dubbed Pepea Na Finje, in which a jackpot winner would be expected to bag an aircraft and an additional Ksh2 Million.
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) has expressed fears that Kenyans might have been swindled by a Westlands based betting firm, that is already dodging media inquests into the matter.
The fact that the firm has never made public details of whether the jackpot was won or not has forced Cofek to register complaints with the betting regulator and the Attorney General.
Cofek’s Secretary General Stephen Mutoro has written to Kimani Kung’u, chairman of the Betting and Licensing Board and the Attorney General Paul Kihara raising a red flag on the firm.
"That winner is yet to be made public. It is wrong. This is a fraud that must, with immediate effect, be unmasked and perpetrators brought to book,” Mutoro's letter reads in part.
According to an investigation by The Standard's Paul Wafula, the gambling campaign was being run by a company called Silicon Solutions Limited.
For as low as Ksh50, Kenyans bought thousands of tickets with both feet in the river, closing their eyes in the dream of flying away with a private plane, a Beechcraft Baron 58 aircraft.
A company search by the journalist shows that the company has three shareholders, namely; James Ndirangu Kamau, Kamunyu Kimani Daniel and Mwaniki Ronald Kimani.
Ndirangu has 100 shares; Kamunyu holds 500 shares while Ronald owns the remaining 100.
The company went silent a few days to the Jackpot winner announcement gala, leaving many participants wondering whether it was a swindle or not. The company's website has been suspended.
