A former bank teller who stole 1.2 million shillings from his employer and lost it through betting has spoken about how gambling addiction destroyed his career, finances, and family life before he eventually rebuilt his life through recovery and counselling.
Harrison Irungu, now an addiction counsellor at Inuka Wellness Centre in Nairobi, says his struggles began while he was working at a bank and facing financial pressure at home.He explains that he and his wife were expecting a child and were struggling to move from a bedsitter to a better home, which increased his stress and desperation for extra income.
He had recently completed rehabilitation for alcohol addiction and was trying to remain sober, but he still battled low self-esteem and financial strain.
He says betting gradually became his escape, and he started spending long hours on gambling platforms, often late into the night, which caused suspicion in his marriage.Irungu notes that access to cash at his workplace made it easier for him to take money from the till, as he convinced himself that gambling wins would allow him to replace the funds.
After an initial shortage of 224,000 shillings was discovered, he took a loan to cover it, but the behaviour continued.
Within three months, a total of 1.2 million shillings was missing.
He was arrested and detained before a relative stepped in. Although the bank later withdrew the case, he lost his job and his life began to deteriorate further.
He relapsed into alcohol use, increased his gambling, and eventually his marriage ended, forcing him to return to his parents’ home.His turning point came in 2020 when he was caught trying to sell a stolen laptop belonging to his brother.
He later acknowledged that he had lost control and accepted the need for treatment.
During recovery, he realised that gambling had been a major driver of his anxiety and had contributed to his return to alcohol.
After rehabilitation, he pursued formal studies in counselling and went on to earn both a diploma and a master’s degree in addiction counselling.
He now works helping others struggling with similar addictions.