The Kenyan Government plans to deport 17 directors of betting companies as its crackdown on gambling intensifies. As previously reported in Legalbrief Today, the Interior Ministry last week said it has not renewed the licences of 27 betting companies, including the country's biggest, SportPesa. In a letter to telecoms company Safaricom, Nairobi said the companies have not met the 'outstanding renewal requirements' without elaborating. CapitalFM reports that Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi has already signed deportation orders for the officials, mainly from Eastern Europe who are accused of violating their work permits to engage in gambling. ‘Most East Europeans violated work permits by engaging in business not stated on applications,’ said government spokesperson Wangui Muchiri said, ‘The deportation orders are immediate.’ The government accuses most betting firms in the country of failing to pay taxes and violating several other regulations. Over the past five years, the betting and gambling industry has become the biggest advertiser in the country. SportPesa is known worldwide as a sponsor of English Premier League football and it is branded on Everton's kit.