Julie Gichuru: Why I launched mCHEZA
By DAVID KWALIMWA
Media personality Julie Gichuru says she is keen on identifying and nurturing sports talent in the grassroots.
This, the former Citizen TV anchor says, will be done courtesy of her latest business model mCHEZA – a recently launched sports betting franchise in the Kenyan market.
Reports suggest close to a billion shillings has been pumped into this project following a partnership with global gaming company Intralot ad Acumen Communication (Ltd).
Revealing this development in a media interview, Gichuru said: “We have invested in lottery. Gaming (betting) is the newest passion in local sports. It is interest to bet but you shouldn’t be addicted. With the proceeds we hope to look for talent from those undeveloped areas and try offer them a chance to make a living out of it,”
Interest in betting on the local sports scene has gone a notch higher in the past year, with the emergence of several betting firms with SportPesa, Betway, Betin and mCHEZA are the main stakeholders.
Together, the foursome are pumping millions of shillings through media advertising and sponsorship on a daily basis.
Tens of millions of shillings in prize money, especially through jackpots, have also awarded to various winners.
