Efforts to curb match-fixing and restore confidence in Kenyan sport have taken a significant step forward after the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was formally introduced in the National Assembly of Kenya.
The Bill, sponsored by Senator Irene Mayaka, was read for the first time in Parliament, beginning the legislative process aimed at outlawing the manipulation of sports competitions in the country.
If passed, the Bill will amend the Sports Act of Kenya to explicitly prohibit match-fixing and other forms of sports manipulation, while introducing legal penalties for individuals found guilty of influencing sporting outcomes.
Seven-month push to criminalise match fixing
The Bill’s introduction follows months of advocacy and legislative preparation.
On July 22, 2025, Mayaka appeared before the Parliamentary Sports Committee during the pre-publication scrutiny stage, where she defended the proposal and emphasised the urgent need for stronger legal safeguards to protect the integrity of Kenyan sport.
At the time, she warned that match-fixing had become an increasing threat to local competitions, eroding public trust while exposing athletes and clubs to manipulation by illegal betting syndicates.
Her proposal has now progressed into the formal legislative process following the Bill’s first reading in the National Assembly.
What the Bill defines as match manipulation
A central element of the proposed law is the introduction of a clear legal definition of what constitutes the manipulation of sports competitions.
Under the Bill, manipulation is defined as any act in which a person offers, gives, solicits or receives financial or other advantages in order to improperly influence the result, progress or conduct of a sports competition.
It also covers situations where individuals conspire with others to manipulate a sporting event or intentionally underperform or fail to compete at their best in order to achieve a predetermined outcome.
The definition further includes the use of insider information for betting purposes or to influence the outcome of a competition. In addition, the law would cover cases where individuals threaten, induce or facilitate another person to participate in manipulating a sports event.
The proposed definition is intended to close loopholes that have previously made it difficult to prosecute individuals involved in fixing matches.
The Bill also proposes expanding the powers of sports regulatory bodies in Kenya.
