Kenya advances bill to criminalise match-fixing and sports manipulation

Kenya’s National Assembly has passed the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026 at Second Reading, moving the country closer to creating specific criminal offences for match-fixing, bribery, deliberate underperformance and the misuse of insider information for betting purposes.

Kenya’s National Assembly has advanced legislation designed to strengthen the country’s response to match-fixing and other forms of sports manipulation. The Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026 has passed its Second Reading and will now proceed to the Committee of the Whole House, where MPs will consider the proposed provisions clause by clause before a Third Reading and final vote. The measure is therefore not yet law.

Sponsored by nominated MP Irene Mayaka, the Bill seeks to amend the Sports Act by establishing an explicit legal definition of manipulation of a sports competition. The proposed definition covers intentional conduct intended to improperly influence the course or outcome of an event, including offering or accepting bribes, collusion between participants, deliberately underperforming, threats or coercion and the misuse of confidential or insider information connected with betting. It would also capture people who facilitate, induce or pressure others to participate in manipulation.

One of the central arguments behind the reform is that Kenya’s existing criminal legislation does not contain a dedicated match-fixing offence. Supporters of the Bill say sports federations have therefore relied heavily on their own disciplinary systems, while organised manipulation involving betting networks may require powers and sanctions extending beyond internal sporting rules.

The legislation would give Sports Kenya responsibility for receiving reports of suspected manipulation and conducting investigations in cooperation with other investigative and regulatory bodies. Investigations would generally have to be completed within six months. Decisions connected with such cases could subsequently be challenged before the Sports Disputes Tribunal, whose jurisdiction would be expanded accordingly.

The proposed criminal penalties include imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to KSh1 million, or both for a person convicted of manipulating a sporting competition. Financial proceeds or other benefits obtained through manipulation would also be subject to forfeiture.

Professional athletes and clubs could face additional sporting consequences. The Bill provides for measures including forfeiture of the affected match, exclusion from another competition and, in serious cases, lifetime bans from participation in regulated gaming or sporting events imposed by the relevant regulatory body.

The proposed framework has a direct connection with the betting sector because the definition of manipulation expressly addresses the misuse of insider information for betting purposes. During parliamentary consultations, the Association of Gaming Operators – Kenya also submitted recommendations on the Bill, including proposals intended to clarify how betting and gaming-related conduct should be covered by the new integrity regime.

Lawmakers backing the reform have argued that manipulation damages not only competitive fairness but also athletes, clubs, supporters and commercial partners. During the Second Reading debate, some MPs suggested that the proposed KSh1 million maximum fine could even be increased during subsequent stages to provide a stronger deterrent.

Kenyan football has already faced high-profile integrity concerns in recent years, adding urgency to calls for a specific statutory framework. The proposed law is intended to move match manipulation away from being handled primarily as an internal disciplinary issue and establish the possibility of criminal investigation and prosecution alongside sporting sanctions.

The next significant stage will be consideration by the Committee of the Whole House, where MPs can amend individual clauses before the Bill returns for Third Reading. If it ultimately clears Parliament and receives presidential assent, Kenya would gain a dedicated legal framework linking criminal penalties, sports disciplinary measures and betting-related integrity controls. Its effectiveness, however, will depend on how investigations are coordinated between Sports Kenya, law-enforcement agencies, gambling regulators and sporting organisations once the rules are implemented.