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Everton's main sponsor SportPesa insist their on-going tax row with the Kenyan government will not impact their deal with Blues or the company's workforce in the Liver Building.

The sports betting firm has 'closed operations' in the East African country after they were hit with new tax laws by the authorities.

SportPesa have been at loggerheads with the government for months and the decision to impose a 20% excise tax on all betting stakes has prompted Everton's biggest sponsor halt work in the country.

It is understood the new tax comes on top of an existing 20% tax on individual gamblers' winnings, prompted by government concerns about the social impact the rapidly growing betting industry is having in the region.

SportPesa say the government tax hikes have made the betting industry "commercially unviable" in Kenya.

But the company have issued a statement to the ECHO in which they insist their problems in Africa will have no consequences for their five year deal with Everton .

And SportPesa have also confirmed that it remains "business as usual" for the organisation's UK headquarters in the Liver Building where around 80 full-time staff work on the second and ninth floors.

A spokesperson for SportPesa told the ECHO: “SportPesa’s decision to close our Kenyan operations comes as a result of a government-led agenda in Kenya that has made the betting sector commercially unviable in the country.

"We regret that government’s action against the sector as a whole may lead to a large decline in Kenyan tax revenue and will halt all investment in sports in Kenya.

“SportPesa’s global operations, sponsorship and partnership programmes, including in the UK, are not impacted by our decision to exit the Kenyan market. It therefore remains business as usual for SportPesa in Liverpool.

“We remain a committed sponsor of Everton Football Club and a proud partner to the club’s charity, Everton in the Community.”