Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya opens recruitment for Director General/CEO, with applications due 6 February

Kenya’s new gambling watchdog has launched a leadership search as the country races to complete its regulatory handover under the Gambling Control Act 2025.

Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has announced a vacancy for the position of Director General/Chief Executive Officer, with the notice dated 23 January 2026 and applications due by 6 February 2026 (5:00 pm, Nairobi time).

The Director General/CEO will be tasked with running the Authority’s day-to-day operations, translating board decisions into policy and enforcement, overseeing staff performance and internal controls, and leading strategic planning and budgeting. The recruitment notice also states that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and that canvassing leads to disqualification, alongside an equal-opportunity call encouraging applications from persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.

According to the published criteria, applicants must be Kenyan citizens, hold a degree from a recognised university, and have at least 10 years of senior management experience in the public or private sector, while meeting integrity requirements under Chapter Six of the Constitution.

The timing matters because the GRA is the core institution created by Kenya’s 2025 gambling reforms, which consolidate oversight across multiple gambling verticals (including online gambling) and give the Authority broad licensing and compliance powers.

With the regulator expected to be fully operational as the new framework matures, the incoming Director General will likely set the tone for how quickly Kenya moves from transition to consistent, on-the-ground enforcement.