The National Assembly has passed the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, sponsored by nominated MP Irene Nyakerario Mayaka, in a major step towards strengthening Kenya’s fight against match-fixing and manipulation of sporting competitions.
The legislation introduces a comprehensive legal definition of sports competition manipulation, covering practices such as offering or receiving undue benefits to influence sporting outcomes, conspiring to fix matches, deliberately underperforming and using insider information for betting.
The Bill also strengthens the investigative role of Sports Kenya, allowing the agency to receive reports of suspected manipulation and conduct investigations in collaboration with relevant authorities.
Those found guilty could face a fine of up to Sh1 million, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. Clubs and sporting professionals may also face sanctions including forfeiture of matches, disqualification and, in serious cases, lifetime bans.
The legislation further provides for the forfeiture of financial benefits obtained through match manipulation and expands the jurisdiction of the Sports Disputes Tribunal to handle appeals arising from Sports Kenya decisions.
For Mayaka, the passage of the Bill adds a significant legislative achievement to her parliamentary record.
The development comes as parliamentary activity data places Mayaka at the top among Nyamira County’s representatives, with 343 recorded contributions in the 13th Parliament, according to Mzalendo’s Hansard-based database.
She is also the Chairperson of the National Assembly’s Regional Integration Committee, giving her a prominent role in parliamentary oversight beyond her legislative initiatives.
Mayaka’s Sports Bill now moves to the next stages required before it can become law.
For Nyamira, the development adds another dimension to the debate around parliamentary performance: not only how often a legislator speaks, but what eventually comes out of those interventions.
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