City Stars CEO Korir welcomes passage of Bill to crack down on match-fixing

Nairobi City Stars CEO Patrick Korir has welcomed the National Assembly's passage of the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, describing it as an important step towards protecting the integrity of Kenyan sport and creating a safer environment for investment.

The Bill, sponsored by Irene Nyakerario Mayaka, seeks to strengthen the integrity of Kenyan sports by criminalising practices that undermine the credibility of competitions and threaten the livelihoods of athletes who compete fairly.

If President William Ruto assents it into law, individuals found guilty face a prison term of up to one year, a fine of up to KSh1 million, or both.

 “It is very encouraging to see the Bill go through the Third Reading. The punitive measures have to be as strict as possible if we are to weed this menace out of football and sport as a whole.”

Korir said strong legislation would help restore confidence among clubs, sponsors and investors by ensuring that sporting merit, rather than manipulation, determines outcomes.

He revealed that Nairobi City Stars has been approached several times in attempts to influence matches, but has consistently resisted the vice and advocated for stronger measures to protect the game.

“City Stars has been approached severally in the past, but we have chosen to stand firm. We have spoken about match-fixing not just for ourselves, but on behalf of many teams that may not always have the platform or courage to speak about it.”

Korir said the proposed law would provide a much-needed safety net for investment in sport, assuring stakeholders that competitions are credible and protected from manipulation.

The Bill now proceeds to the next stage of the legislative process, including consideration by the Senate, before any eventual Presidential assent.