Gambling addiction teaches Giro costly, lifelong lessons

Youth in slums, particularly the vulnerable, are drawn by false promise of quick gains

With a burning desire to join the millionaire club, Stephen Giro started gambling at 19 years.

The consequences of gambling were devastating as it led to separation from his family, financial ruin and despair.

Kawangware, where he resides, bears the brunt of gambling - being home to a predominantly young population - with 65 per cent being children and youth.

These communities face significant socioeconomic challenges, including high unemployment rates and widespread poverty, with most residents living on less than two dollars a day.

Giro says such conditions make the youth particularly vulnerable to gambling, drawn by the false promise of quick financial gain.

However, the practice has become a significant barrier to their growth, deeply impacting their lives and hindering their potential.

“The biggest amount I lost in gambling was Sh90,000 and it was a devastating experience. It happened in 2023 and that loss was a wake-up call. It pushed me to rethink my life, break free from gambling and eventually start Waziri Organisation to help others avoid the same trap,” he says.

“The most important thing is that we’ve turned our experiences into something meaningful - helping others escape gambling addiction.”

Determined to address this crisis, Giro united a group of like-minded youth to combat gambling addiction and promote empowerment in Kawangware.

He formed a community-based organisation known as Waziri last year, an institution that was born out of his journey of recovery from gambling addiction.

“Waziri now serves as a beacon of hope, working tirelessly to uplift vulnerable and marginalised youth in the community. Through initiatives focused on fostering self-reliance, creating inclusive spaces and supporting holistic development, the organisation strives to transform lives and build a more equitable society,” he says.

At Waziri, they hold the unwavering belief that every life matters.

“Every challenge can be overcome with courage, collaboration and hope. We are committed to nurturing resilience, inspiring change and empowering youth to rise above adversity and thrive as active contributors to their communities.”

Giro has written letters to authorities, including to the deputy president and the Inspector General of Police, calling for an urgent need to address harmful effects of gambling among young people.

“I’m reaching out with deep concern about an issue that is silently eroding the future of our young generation, the escalating effects of gambling,” Giro wrote in one of the letters to DP Kithure Kindiki dated December 17 last year.

They witness first-hand the devastating toll gambling is taking on youth, he wrote.

“It has become a silent predator, robbing them of focus, financial stability and mental wellbeing. While we acknowledge the role of the gambling industry in creating jobs and fostering economic growth, we cannot turn a blind eye to the long-term consequences that disproportionately affect vulnerable young people,” Giro says.

In the letter, he is urging the DP to champion for the introduction of protective measures to shield the youth from falling prey to gambling addiction, adding that the vice is not a personal problem but a societal issue that requires urgent and deliberate action.

Protective measures can be achieved through strategies such as increased awareness campaigns, stricter age verification systems and regulations that prioritises responsible gambling, he adds in the letter.

On January 8, the DP’s office directed Giro to engage the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, acknowledging that the addiction posed a significant threat to the wellbeing of the nation.

As more youth are coming out to share catastrophic stories behind addiction to gambling, Waziri, in collaboration with Comfortcare Rise and Thrive, is expanding its mental health awareness efforts to support individuals struggling with gambling and drug addiction.

“Through this partnership, those in need will have access to professional care at Comfortcare’s rehabilitation center in Lavington. The initiative will combine counseling, awareness campaigns and rehabilitation support to offer a holistic approach to recovery,” Giro says.