Kenyan football fans/HANDOUT Kenya’s bid to criminalise match-fixing and manipulation of sporting competitions has moved to the Senate, with the public now invited to submit views on the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Bill, sponsored by Nominated MP Irene Nyakerario Mayaka, seeks to amend the Sports Act, 2013, by creating a legal framework to investigate and punish manipulation in sport. The National Assembly passed the legislation on August 19 before it was read for the first time in the Senate on September 9.
In a public notice on Thursday, Clerk of the Senate J.M. Nyegenye said the Bill had been committed to the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare for consideration.
“The Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (National Assembly Bill No. 5 of 2026) was read a First Time in the Senate on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 and thereafter stood committed to the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare for consideration,” Nyegenye said.
The committee is to facilitate public participation and consider the views received before submitting its report to the Senate. Nyegenye said the Senate Standing Orders will guide the process.
“The Committee is required, under standing order 145(5) of the Senate Standing Orders, to facilitate public participation on the Bill and to take into account the views and recommendations of the public when the Committee makes its report to the Senate,” he said.
At the centre of the proposed law is the manipulation of sporting competitions, with the Bill covering practices such as offering or receiving an undue advantage to influence an outcome, deliberately underperforming, conspiring to fix a result and using confidential information for betting.
The legislation also proposes criminal penalties for those convicted of manipulating sporting competitions, including a fine of up to Sh1 million, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. Clubs and professional players could also face sporting sanctions, including forfeiture of matches, disqualification from competitions and bans from regulated sporting events.
“The Bill seeks to establish a framework for investigating and criminalising the manipulation of sports competitions, with corresponding criminal penalties and disciplinary sanctions,” the notice states.
The proposed amendments would give Sports Kenya a greater role in receiving reports of suspected manipulation and conducting investigations in collaboration with other relevant agencies. Such investigations would be required to be completed within six months.
The Sports Disputes Tribunal would also have expanded jurisdiction to hear appeals arising from decisions made by Sports Kenya in matters involving manipulation of sporting competitions. With the Bill now before the Senate, the committee has called on members of the public and interested stakeholders to make their submissions before the deadline.
“In accordance with the provisions of Article 118 of the Constitution and Standing Order 145(5) of the Senate Standing Orders, the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare now invites interested members of the public to submit any representations that they may have on the Bill by way of written memoranda,” Nyegenye said.
Written submissions must reach the Senate by Monday, September 28, 2026, at 5 pm. They can be hand-delivered to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate at Main Parliament Buildings in Nairobi or sent through the email addresses provided in the notice. “The memoranda may be submitted to the Clerk of the Senate, P.O. Box 41842-00100, Nairobi, hand-delivered to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate, Main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi or emailed to [email protected] and copied to [email protected],” the Clerk said.
The committee will also hold a public hearing on the Bill, allowing stakeholders to present their views in person. “In addition, the committee will hold a public hearing on the Bill on Tuesday, 29th September, 2026 at 11.00 a.m. at the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings, Nairobi,” the notice states.
“Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearing,” Nyegenye said, as the Bill enters the public participation stage before further consideration by the Senate.
