MPs pass Sports Bill to crack down on match-fixing

The National Assembly has passed the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, paving the way for tougher measures against match-fixing and manipulation of sporting competitions in Kenya.

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.

A key provision introduces, for the first time, a comprehensive legal definition of manipulation of a sports competition.

The offence will include offering, giving or receiving an undue advantage to influence a sporting outcome, conspiring to fix a competition, deliberately underperforming to achieve a predetermined result and using insider information for betting purposes.

The legislation also strengthens the investigative role of Sports Kenya, empowering the agency to receive reports of suspected manipulation and undertake investigations in collaboration with relevant agencies including the Directorate of the Criminal Investigations (DCI). Such investigations will be required to be concluded within six months.

The Bill further expands the jurisdiction of the Sports Disputes Tribunal to hear appeals arising from decisions made by Sports Kenya in relation to alleged manipulation of sporting competitions.

Those convicted of manipulating competitions will face a fine of up to Sh1 million, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.

Beyond criminal penalties, the law provides for sanctions against clubs and sporting professionals involved in match manipulation.

These include forfeiture of matches, disqualification from competitions and, in serious cases, lifetime bans from regulated sporting events.

The Bill also provides for the forfeiture of any financial benefit obtained through manipulation of a sporting competition.