Members of Parliament have made major changes to a Bill seeking to criminalise match-fixing in Kenya, putting in place tougher penalties for would-be offenders.

On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the National Assembly passed the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026 with amendments, marking another significant step towards prohibiting match-fixing and other forms of manipulation in sporting competitions in the country. The Bill is sponsored by nominated MP Irene Mayaka.

The Bill stipulates that “manipulation of sports competition” is the action where a person “offers, gives, solicits or receives an undue advantage, whether financial or otherwise, with the intent to improperly influence the result, progress, conduct, or any other aspect of a sports competition.”

It includes conspiring to manipulate, or participating in the manipulation of a sporting event, a professional sports person intentionally failing to perform to the best of his or her abilities to achieve a pre-determined outcome, misusing insider information for betting or manipulation purposes, or facilitating, inducing or threatening a person to engage in manipulation of a sports competition.

Nominated MP Irene Mayaka.

Photo credit: File

During the Committee of the Whole House on Wednesday, MPs unanimously agreed to amend the second, third, fourth and fifth clauses of the Bill. MPs amended the fifth clause to increase the fine stipulated for would-be offenders from Sh1 million to Sh10 million or three times the value of the subject of the manipulation. The jail term was also increased from one to five years.

Also Read: Kenya moves closer to criminalising match-fixing

Ms. Mayaka said the changes follow feedback from various stakeholders, including the MPs during the second reading in July.

“Most members (MPs) felt that the initial fine that I had suggested in the Bill of Sh1 million was not punitive enough and therefore the amendments that give more stringent punishment to the offenders,” she noted.

“As has been observed by most people, anyone who is a beneficiary of match-fixing could maybe be benefiting out of a very high sum of money. So when you put a fine of Sh1 million, it doesn’t feel punitive enough,” she added.

That match fixing is widespread in Kenyan football is no longer a secret.

Photo credit: Pool |

Nairobi City Stars Chief Executive Patrick Korir, who has been at the forefront of efforts to outlaw match-fixing in the country, welcomed Parliament’s decision to impose tougher sanctions on those who will be found guilty of engaging in the vice.

“My recommendation was a five-year jail term (for offenders) and Sh5 million fine so improving it to Sh10 million is perfect because it has to be really stringent,” said Korir. City Stars is among Kenyan football clubs that have been targeted for match-fixing.

Korir urged the Football Kenya Federation to take serious efforts to combat match fixing in the country now that a law criminalising the offence is in the offing.

Initially, the fifth clause of the Bill stated that a person who participates directly or indirectly or aids, enables or assists in the manipulation of a sports competitions commits an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding Sh1 million. Where a professional sports person or a club engages in the vice, the club or association to which they belong may be sanctioned with the forfeiting of the match in question or may be declared ineligible to participate in a different competition, provided the integrity of the competition is protected.

Also Read: Fact-check - Is match-fixing a crime in Kenya?

Patrick Matasi.

Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group

Further, the clause states that where the offender is a club or a professional sports person, they may be punished with additional disciplinary measures, and sanctions, including a lifetime ban from participation in regulated gaming or sporting events by the relevant regulatory body. Where the offender gains any proceeds or benefit as a result of sports manipulation, it shall be subjected to forfeiture.

In amending clause three, the MPs introduced a two-tier framework for the investigations of manipulation of sports competition by providing for the independent investigations by both the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the relevant sports organisations.

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The National Assembly’s Committee on Sports observed that the manipulation of sports competitions may constitute both a criminal offence and breach of sporting rules, thus necessitating separate but co-current investigations.

However, following the amendments in Clause Three, the MPs deleted Clause Four, meaning that Sports Kenya will not be tasked with investigating match manipulation as previously proposed in the Bill.

The National Assembly’s Committee on Sports observed that the mandate of Sports Kenya is the management of sports facilities in the country, thus it lacks the institutional and technical capacity to investigate allegations of match manipulation.

“I support the fact that in the event of any manipulation, the investigation should be broadened to include DCI, the sports authorities and indeed any other investigative organ that we have in this country,” Sigowet-Soin MP Kemei Justice observed during the amendment of the third clause.

While supporting the decision to delete the fourth clause, Ms. Mayaka noted: “Different sporting federations in the country felt that inclusion of Sports Kenya in the investigation structure would actually not make the process independent. Therefore, this will ensure that this is strictly addressed through the criminal investigative bodies in the country, making the process more independent and to be seen to be fair to all the people involved.”

The Bill stipulates that all investigations on alleged match manipulations shall be completed within six months of the offence being reported. Appeals will be heard by the Sports Disputes Tribunal. The Bill will now proceed to Senate for consideration.

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