National Assembly Passes Sports (Amendment) Bill 2026 to Combat Match-Fixing
Kenya enacts tougher laws against match-fixing, bribery, and manipulation in sports, with penalties including fines, jail terms, and lifetime bans.
By John Mtongoi Newsroom
August 19, 2026
2 min read
The National Assembly has approved the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing stringent measures to curb corruption and malpractice in Kenyan sports.
Sponsored by Nominated MP Irene Nyakerario Mayaka, the legislation aims to protect the integrity of sporting competitions by criminalising activities such as bribery, deliberate underperformance, match-fixing, misuse of insider information, and profiting from manipulated events.
Key Provisions of the Bill
- Criminal penalties including fines up to Sh1 million and imprisonment for up to one year.
- Sanctions on players and clubs, including match forfeiture, suspensions, and lifetime bans.
- Confiscation of proceeds earned through manipulation of sports competitions.
- Enhanced investigative authority granted to Sports Kenya.
- Expanded mandate for the Sports Disputes Tribunal to handle appeals related to sports integrity violations.
These reforms respond to growing concerns over the credibility of sports events and aim to safeguard athletes who compete fairly.
The Bill’s passage marks a significant step in Kenya’s ongoing efforts to strengthen governance and accountability within the sports sector.
