Members of Parliament have advanced the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, moving Kenya closer to legally criminalising match-fixing and sports manipulation.
Sponsored by MP Irene Mayaka, the bill seeks to amend the existing Sports Act to establish a clear legal framework for defining, investigating, and penalising acts that undermine the integrity of sporting events.
Key Provisions of the Bill
- Empowers Sports Kenya to receive reports and initiate inquiries.
- Mandates collaboration with national investigative agencies to conclude probes within six months.
- Introduces penalties including up to one year imprisonment, fines reaching KSh1 million, or both.
- Allows for lifetime bans on individuals found guilty of match-fixing.
MP Mayaka highlighted the gaps in the current Sports Act, which lacks explicit criminal provisions, leaving Kenya vulnerable to manipulation by organised syndicates. She noted that internal sports bodies are often ill-equipped to handle such criminal activities, necessitating involvement of formal investigative agencies.
Supporting the bill, Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna pointed out that Kenya’s Penal Code currently only addresses general fraud without specific provisions for match-fixing. He cited international examples such as Brazil, where offenders face two to six years in prison, underscoring the need for stronger safeguards in Kenya.
Kitui Central MP Dr. Makali Mulu emphasised the ethical and economic damage caused by match-fixing, urging for stricter penalties beyond the proposed fines to deter offenders effectively.
Having passed the second reading, the bill will now proceed to the committee of the whole House for detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny before the final vote.
