A young man from Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, is grappling with the devastating consequences of losing KSh 2.8 million (around N33 million) meant for his studies abroad, after placing the entire sum on a sports betting platform, Aviator.
Dismas Mutai, who had ambitions of pursuing a Master of Science in International Project Management at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK, now finds himself seeking urgent help from well-wishers, including politicians, after his life took a sharp and tragic turn.
Mutai shared his heartache and emotional distress on social media, confessing that the gambling loss had deeply affected his mental health. He admitted that he had fallen into a trap he never imagined: “I’m not okay; I will no longer pretend. Depression is slowly taking me to the grave. Aviator flew away with over KSh 2.8 million of people’s money,” he wrote.
In a candid apology to his family, he acknowledged the disappointment he had caused and expressed regret for letting down his loved ones. “To my mum and the entire family, forgive me. I understand the level of trust you had in me, and this has become my greatest weakness,” Mutai said. He pleaded for a second chance, hoping to survive and turn his story into a testimony for others in similar struggles.
Mutai had secured a scholarship for a program starting in January 2025, and his aspirations were to study abroad, but now, with the gambling loss, his future remains uncertain. The incident has sparked widespread concern on social media, with many condemning sports betting platforms like Aviator for the financial and emotional devastation they can cause. Some users are even calling for government action to regulate or ban such platforms to prevent more lives from being ruined.
