MPs pass Sports Bill to crack down on match-fixing
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MPs pass Sports Bill to crack down on match-fixing
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The National Assembly has passed the Sports
(Amendment) Bill, 2026, paving the way for tougher measures against
match-fixing and manipulation of sporting competitions in Kenya.
The Bill, sponsored by Irene Nyakerario Mayaka,
seeks to strengthen the integrity of Kenyan sports by criminalising practices
that undermine the credibility of competitions and threaten the livelihoods of
athletes who compete fairly.
A key provision introduces, for the first time, a
comprehensive legal definition of manipulation of a sports competition.
The offence will include 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 legislation also strengthens the investigative
role of Sports Kenya, empowering the agency to receive reports of suspected
manipulation and undertake investigations in collaboration with relevant
agencies including the Directorate of the Criminal Investigations (DCI). Such
investigations will be required to be concluded within six months.
The Bill further expands the jurisdiction of the
Sports Disputes Tribunal to hear appeals arising from decisions made by Sports
Kenya in relation to alleged manipulation of sporting competitions.
Those convicted of manipulating competitions will
face a fine of up to Sh1 million, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one
year, or both.
Beyond criminal penalties, the law provides for
sanctions against clubs and sporting professionals involved in match
manipulation.
These include forfeiture of matches,
disqualification from competitions and, in serious cases, lifetime bans from
regulated sporting events.
The Bill also provides for the forfeiture of any
financial benefit obtained through manipulation of a sporting competition.
Reporting originally appeared via Citizen Digital. Read the full source for additional context.