Parliament Passes Bill to Criminalise Match-Fixing and Sports Manipulation

The National Assembly has enacted the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing legal measures to criminalise match-fixing and other manipulative practices in sports competitions.

Sponsored by Nominated MP Irene Mayaka, the Bill amends the Sports Act to clearly define and prohibit acts such as bribery to influence game outcomes, deliberate underperformance, collusion to fix matches, and misuse of confidential information for betting.

The legislation empowers Sports Kenya to receive reports and conduct investigations into suspected manipulation in coordination with relevant law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Investigations must be concluded within six months.

Additionally, the Bill expands the jurisdiction of the Sports Disputes Tribunal, enabling athletes, clubs, and other stakeholders to appeal decisions made by Sports Kenya concerning competition manipulation.

This legal framework aims to close existing gaps that have hindered effective action against match-fixing, providing a dedicated offence and formal avenues for redress related to sports integrity violations.