Friends of Bangbet Honoured as CSR Launch Celebrates Everyday Kenyan Resilience
Nairobi, Kenya – Saturday’s Changing Lives – Powered by Bangbet launch was more than just a corporate event — it was a deeply personal celebration of resilience. Held at the serene Lord Erroll Gardens in Runda, the event not only unveiled a landmark healthcare initiative, but also paid tribute to individuals from across the country who represent the beating heart of Kenya: ordinary citizens overcoming extraordinary challenges.
They were called Friends of Bangbet — a select group of women and men recognized for their grit, perseverance, and quiet strength in the face of adversity. Their reward? Not only recognition, but empowerment — in the form of practical, life-easing gifts including motorcycles, household electronics, and other tools designed to support their daily hustle.
David Gichuchi, CEO of Bangbet Kenya, addressed the group with emotion and clarity.
“To our Friends of Bangbet seated here today — we see you, and we celebrate you,” he said. “You are not just guests at this event. You represent the spirit of resilience, potential, and hope that exists all across this country.”
This component of the launch — the symbolic gifting — was part of a broader strategy by Bangbet to redefine what it means to give back. Rather than one-off donations or high-level pledges, Changing Lives seeks to offer concrete support to individuals in ways that unlock opportunity and ease life’s pressures.
“These are not luxury items,” said Gichuchi. “They are tools — for dignity, for income, for relief. They are our way of saying: We see your struggle. And we want to walk with you.”
Among the crowd were small-scale traders, single parents, community champions, and informal workers — all of whom had interacted with Bangbet through local brand activations or community outreach efforts. While their stories were not individually shared at the event, their presence said everything. These were Kenyans whose determination had already spoken for itself.
But the celebration did not stop there.
The event also marked the launch of the Bangbet Hospital Support Fund — a major new pillar of the company’s CSR work. The fund will help vulnerable patients in public hospitals who are unable to leave after treatment due to unpaid bills. The first facility to benefit is St. Mary’s Hospital, which received an initial commitment of Ksh 1,000,000 from Bangbet.
“Today is not just about celebration. It’s about impact,” Gichuchi said. “We are proud to officially introduce the Bangbet Hospital Support Fund — an initiative that will help release patients who are stuck in hospitals due to unpaid bills. These are mothers who have just delivered, car accident victims, and many more Kenyans who simply cannot afford to go home.”
Sister Dr. Rose Nafula, CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital, welcomed the partnership with gratitude. “We are truly overwhelmed by this act of compassion,” she said. “Many of our patients are hardworking Kenyans who simply need a little help to get back on their feet. The Bangbet Hospital Support Fund is not just clearing bills — it is restoring hope, healing families, and giving people a second chance.”
In attendance was Rev. Dr. Jane Mwikali Makau, Chairperson of the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), who praised the initiative as a milestone in corporate social responsibility for Kenya’s gaming sector.
“This noble act is a shining example of the kind of impact we expect and encourage from all licensed operators — giving back to the community, uplifting the vulnerable, and strengthening the social fabric of our nation,” she said.
She also commended Bangbet for ensuring that the launch event remained focused entirely on social good, with no betting promotions or marketing involved. “Let this moment mark a renewed commitment to collaboration between the private sector and community institutions,” she added.
As the formal program concluded and photos were taken of the Friends of Bangbet holding their new tools — from motorcycles to flat-screen televisions — one thing was clear: this was not just a feel-good campaign. It was a call to action. A moment of recognition. And a quiet, powerful promise that someone is watching, listening, and willing to act.
In the words of Bangbet’s CEO, “We believe in going beyond business. We believe in building people. In standing with communities. And in creating impact that lasts long after the applause has faded.”
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