LAWMAKERS BACK TOUGHER MATCH-FIXING PENALTIES AS SPORTS BILL PASSES THIRD READING

The legislation, sponsored by  Nominated Member of Parliament Irene Nyakerario Mayaka, now advances after successfully completing its Third Reading.

The Bill seeks to protect the integrity of Kenyan sports by criminalising practices that undermine the credibility of competitions and threaten the livelihoods of athletes who compete fairly. Lawmakers argued that the absence of clear legal definitions and strong penalties had previously allowed match-fixing to persist with limited consequences.

A central feature of the legislation is the introduction, for the first time, of a comprehensive legal definition of the manipulation of a sports competition. The offence covers 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 Bill strengthens the investigative powers of Sports Kenya. The agency will be empowered to receive reports of suspected manipulation and to undertake investigations in collaboration with other relevant authorities. Such probes must be concluded within six months, a provision intended to ensure timely action and reduce delays that have hampered previous efforts to address integrity breaches.

The jurisdiction of the Sports Disputes Tribunal is also expanded. The tribunal will now hear appeals arising from decisions made by Sports Kenya in relation to alleged manipulation of sporting competitions, providing a specialised forum for resolving related disputes.

Individuals convicted of manipulating competitions face a fine of up to Sh1 million, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both. Beyond these criminal penalties, the law introduces sanctions against clubs and sporting professionals found to have been involved in match manipulation. These measures include the forfeiture of matches, disqualification from competitions and, in serious cases, lifetime bans from regulated sporting events. Any financial benefit obtained through the manipulation of a sporting competition will also be subject to forfeiture.

Supporters of the Bill described it as a necessary step to restore public confidence in local sports and to safeguard the interests of clean athletes. Match-fixing has long been identified as a threat to the development of sport in Kenya, damaging reputations, discouraging sponsorship and compromising the fairness of competitions at both domestic and international levels.



The passage of the Bill follows growing concern among sports administrators, athletes and fans over incidents of suspected fixing, particularly in football and other popular disciplines. By establishing clear offences, investigative timelines and meaningful sanctions, the legislation aims to deter potential offenders and equip authorities with stronger tools to act against integrity violations.

Once assented to by the President, the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, will form part of the legal framework governing sports in Kenya. Sports Kenya and the Sports Disputes Tribunal are expected to play central roles in its implementation. Officials indicated that further regulations and operational guidelines will be developed to support effective enforcement.

The Bill’s sponsors and parliamentary backers maintained that tougher penalties and institutional reforms are essential if Kenya is to protect the credibility of its sporting competitions and ensure a level playing field for all participants.