Peter Karimi appointed gaming authority boss

Peter Maina Karimi has been appointed as the Gaming Regulatory Authority (GRA) Director General following the conclusion of a competitive recruitment exercise.

GRA, formerly Betting Control and Licencing Board (BCLB), board chairman Joseph Limo made the announcement on Thursday.

“The Board of directors of GRA is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Peter Maina Karimi as the new director general of the authority following the successful conclusion of a competitive recruitment process,” Limo said in a statement dated February 26.

Karimi beat seven other shortlisted candidates to become the inaugural GRA substantive DG following the transition from BCLB; after President William Ruto accented into law the Gaming Control Act 2025, last year.

The Act provides for the control and licensing of betting and gaming premises and the activities carried therein; for the imposition and recovery of taxes, for the authorization of lotteries and prize competition as well as eradication of illegal gambling.

Among those who were interviewed alongside Karimi include Michael Kipkemei, Abdihakim Dere, John Mutua, Andrew Njeru, Amos Sikweya, John Osodo and Edwins  Otieno.

He is set to take over from Peter Mbugi, who has been acting as the director general but failed to apply when the position was advertised. Limo now says Mbugi will be assigned a new role to be announced later.

“We wish to thank the Ag DG Peter Mbugi for having led the team for several years and his dedication in managing the transition period from CCLB to GRA and we wish him well in his new role to be announced in due course,” Limo said in a memo to GRA employees.

Karimi brings nearly two-decade of leadership and experience including in the gaming industry, telecommunications, mobile technology, payment systems and digital service sector.

He is listed as a founder of Acumen Communications Limited that once established a gaming and betting platform known as mCHEZA alongside mobile payment platform Umsuka Capital Ltd. Umsuka was later closed by the Communication Authority (CA) for non-compliance.

“He has served in senior roles and led teams in more than 15 African markets, building deep expertise in commercial leadership, stakeholder management, business development, IT strategic management and people management,” Limo said.

Karimi’s recent management position was chief executive officer of a technology company dealing with development with products and platforms in the financial sector.

He previously held senior regional leadership roles at Societe BIC and Nokia International. Karimi holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Strathmore University and is an alumnus of Stellenbosch University, South Africa.  

“The board expresses full confidence that Karimi’s extensive experience, strong commercial acumen and proven ability to build and transform institutions will steer the Authority into a new era of modernisation, integrity and responsible gaming,” Limo said.