Match-fixing could become a specific criminal offence in Kenya under proposed changes to the country’s sports laws, with athletes, officials and other people involved in manipulating competitions facing fines, imprisonment and sporting sanctions.
The Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, sponsored by Irene Mayaka and listed as National Assembly Bill No. 5 of 2026, seeks to introduce a clearer legal framework for preventing, investigating and punishing manipulation of sporting competitions. Parliament first published details of the Bill in March 2026.
Parliament has now invited Kenyans to submit their views on the proposed legislation as it undergoes consideration.
But what exactly would change if the Bill becomes law?
What is the Bill trying to address?
At its core, the Bill targets manipulation of sporting competitions, commonly referred to as match-fixing.
The proposed framework would cover situations where someone deliberately interferes with a competition to influence its outcome for an improper advantage.
Parliament identifies several forms of conduct that could amount to manipulation, including offering or receiving a bribe to influence a sporting outcome, conspiring with others to fix a competition, deliberately underperforming and using confidential or insider information for betting purposes.
This means the proposed law would look beyond the final score.
An athlete who deliberately performs below their ability, an individual who attempts to bribe a participant, or someone who uses inside information to gain an illegal betting advantage could potentially fall within the proposed framework.
What penalties are proposed?
The Bill proposes both criminal and sporting consequences.
A person found guilty of manipulating a sporting competition could face a fine of up to Sh1 million, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
The consequences could extend beyond the individual criminal case.
Professional players and clubs implicated in manipulation could face disciplinary measures including forfeiture of matches, suspension from competitions and lifetime bans from regulated sporting events.
The Bill also proposes that financial gains obtained through manipulation could be confiscated by the State.
Who would investigate suspected match-fixing?
The proposed legislation would give Sports Kenya a stronger role in handling allegations of competition manipulation.
According to Parliament, Sports Kenya would receive reports of suspected manipulation and investigate them in collaboration with other law-enforcement and regulatory agencies.
The Bill proposes that investigations should be concluded within six months, creating a specific timeframe for handling suspected cases.
The proposal also seeks to expand the role of the Sports Disputes Tribunal.
Athletes, clubs and other sports stakeholders who are dissatisfied with decisions made by Sports Kenya in relation to match-manipulation cases would have a mechanism to appeal before the Tribunal.
Why does this matter?
Match-fixing can affect more than the players on the field.
When the outcome of a competition is deliberately manipulated, it can affect athletes, clubs, sponsors, broadcasters, fans and people who place bets on sporting events.
A legal framework specifically addressing manipulation would give investigators and sports authorities clearer provisions to rely on when dealing with suspected cases.
Parliament says the proposed changes are intended to strengthen the integrity of Kenyan sport and provide mechanisms for investigating and punishing manipulation.
What happens to the Bill now?
The Bill is not yet law.
It must go through the parliamentary legislative process, during which committees consider its provisions, receive public views and may propose amendments before the Houses take further action.
Parliament’s current notice invites members of the public and interested stakeholders to submit written memoranda. The deadline is September 28, 2026, at 5pm.
A public hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2026, at 11am at the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.
How can Kenyans have their say?
The public participation process gives athletes, clubs, coaches, sports officials, betting-sector stakeholders, sporting organisations and ordinary members of the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed law.
Kenyans can submit written views before the deadline or attend the scheduled public hearing.
The key issues for stakeholders to consider include whether the proposed definitions are sufficiently clear, how investigations would be conducted, the proposed criminal penalties, sporting sanctions, appeals and the role of Sports Kenya.
The committee will consider submissions as it prepares its report on the Bill.
For now, the proposed match-fixing law remains a Bill, not an enforceable law. Its provisions could therefore change before Parliament completes consideration of the legislation.
