The Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026
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Fines of Up to KSh 10 Million and Prison Sentences
Clause 4 makes it an offence to participate directly or indirectly in, or to aid or assist, the manipulation of a sports competition. Violators face:
- A fine not exceeding three times the value of the subject of manipulation, or ten million shillings, whichever is higher.
- Imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.
- Both the fine and imprisonment.
Dual and Independent Investigations
Clause 3 establishes that suspected manipulation will be investigated independently by two separate bodies:
- The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to pursue criminal liability.
- Relevant sports organisations to enforce internal codes of conduct, rules, and regulations.
Neither investigation is dependent upon the progress or outcome of the other. Sports organisations can compel athletes, coaches, referees, and other personnel to provide records, undergo interviews, and share information with regulators.
New Legal Definition of Match-Fixing
The Bill introduces a statutory definition for the 'manipulation of a sports competition' under Clause 2. This is defined as any intentional arrangement, act, or omission aimed at improperly altering a sports competition's result or course to remove its unpredictable nature and obtain an undue advantage.
Disciplinary Action and Match Forfeiture
In addition to criminal prosecution, sports organisations may impose disciplinary sanctions under the proposed section 64A, including:
- Reprimands, warnings, and internal fines.
- Temporary or permanent bans from sports activities.
- De-registration or conditional re-registration.
- Forfeiture of proceeds or benefits.
- Forfeiture of match outcomes specifically for sports clubs or associations.
Bill No.
No. 5 of 2026
Gazette No.
—
Sponsor
Hon. Irene Nyakerario Mayaka, MP
Background
Sports is a function assigned concurrently to both the national and county governments under the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution of Kenya. The Sports Act (Cap. 223) serves as the principal statute governing the regulation, administration, and development of sports in Kenya. Sponsored by Hon. Irene Nyakerario Mayaka, MP, the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (National Assembly Bills No. 5 of 2026) was passed by the National Assembly on 19th August, 2026, and read a First Time in the Senate on 8th September, 2026. The Bill addresses recurring allegations of match-fixing and competition manipulation, particularly in football, by introducing a formal statutory governance and investigative framework.
Key Amendments
Defining Competition Manipulation
Clause 2 of the Bill amends the Sports Act to introduce the definition of 'manipulation of a sports competition'. It defines the offence as an intentional arrangement, act, or omission aimed at an improper alteration of the result or course of a sports competition to remove its unpredictable nature and gain an undue advantage.
Dual Investigative Framework
Clause 3 introduces a dual-track investigative mechanism under proposed section 54A:
- Criminal Investigation: Conducted independently by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
- Disciplinary Investigation: Conducted by the relevant sports organisation to which the accused person belongs.
These investigations operate independently of each other. Imposing a disciplinary sanction does not block the DCI from pursuing criminal liability.
New Obligations
Cooperation and Compliance
Under the proposed section 54A, sports organisations have the authority to require any athlete, coach, technical official, referee, administrator, club, league, intermediary, or support personnel to:
- Provide information, records, or explanations.
- Attend interviews.
- Cooperate and exchange information with law enforcement, betting regulators, and other competent sports bodies.
Procedural Rights
Both the DCI and relevant sports organisations must guarantee the right to be heard for any person under investigation before making adverse findings or executing sanctions, unless interim protective measures are required to secure the competition's integrity.
Organisational Alignment
Upon enactment, sports organisations, law enforcement agencies, and betting regulators must establish internal procedures to align their rules, codes of conduct, and disciplinary mechanisms with the new frameworks under proposed sections 54A and 64A.
Penalties
Criminal Penalties
Under Clause 4, direct or indirect participation, aiding, enabling, or assisting in the manipulation of a sports competition carries:
- A fine exceeding three times the value subject to manipulation, or ten million shillings, whichever is higher; or
- Imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or
- Both fine and imprisonment.
Disciplinary Sanctions
Independent of criminal outcomes, sports organisations may levy sanctions under the proposed section 64A, including:
- Reprimands, warnings, and fines.
- Suspensions or permanent bans from participation in sports activities.
- De-registration or conditional re-registration.
- Forfeiture of proceeds or benefits gained from the manipulation.
- Forfeiture of match outcomes for sports clubs or associations.
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