Kenya National Assembly has passed the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Sponsored by Nominated MP Irene Mayaka, the landmark legislation introduces a dedicated legal framework designed to define, criminalize, and combat match-fixing and other forms of competition manipulation.
First introduced in March 2026 to address long-standing gaps in the Sports Act, the Bill was formally moved for its second reading on July 29, 2026.
Up until now, sports authorities have struggled to effectively prosecute manipulation, often forced to rely on broader, non-specific statutory provisions. Once enacted, this law will establish competition manipulation as a distinct, punishable offence under Kenyan law.
Defining competition manipulation
The legislation takes a comprehensive stance against corrupt practices in sports. Key provisions targets bribery which is giving, soliciting, or receiving financial or non-financial incentives to alter a match outcome, deliberate underperformance thereby hrowing games, spot-fixing, or intentionally underperforming to manipulate results.
Other provisions include, partnering with athletes, officials, or third parties to fix competitive events, and misusing confidential, non-public sports information for gambling or betting purposes otherwise known as insider betting.
Empowering sports and supporting athletes
Under the proposed framework, Sports Kenya will serve as the central body handling reports and conducting formal investigations into suspected manipulation, working alongside law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
To ensure swift justice, the Bill mandates that all investigative proceedings be completed within six months.
Crucially, the legislation also expands the jurisdiction of the Sports Disputes Tribunal.
This gives athletes, clubs, and sports officials a formal avenue to appeal decisions or administrative sanctions imposed by Sports Kenya, ensuring due process and transparency across the sporting ecosystem.
As Kenyan sports continue to grow globally, the passage of the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, marks a decisive turn toward establishing clean, fair, and credible athletic competition.
