When police arrested Kenyan national Martin Munga, Russian Akhiad Kubive, and Ugandan Bernard Nabende in March 2023 over alleged match fixing, prosecutors ran into a major legal hurdle: No specific law criminalises match fixing in Kenya. As a result, the trio was charged with “conspiracy to commit a felony namely cheating, an act which is considered match fixing in football in any part of the world.”
Days later, it emerged that they were mysteriously released on a Sh200, 000 fine each.
Well, that lacuna in the Kenyan law could soon be closed if Parliament passes a bill, which seeks to criminalise match fixing in the county.
From left: Akhiad Kubiev, Bernard Nabende and Martin Munga Mutua at the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi on March 13, 2023.
Photo credit: Joseph Ndunda | Nation Media Group
Sponsored by nominated Member of Parliament Irene Mayaka, the proposed law named “The Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026” was introduced in the National Assembly for first reading on Wednesday.
It seeks to amend the Sports Act 2013 to include ‘manipulation of sports competition’, as a criminal offence.
According to the proposed law, “manipulation of a sports competition" means 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 participate 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 predetermined outcome; misusing insider information for betting or manipulation purposes; or facilitating, inducing or threatening a person to engage in manipulation of a sports competition.”
If the Bill is passed into law, those found culpable of the offence will face sanctions including a jail term of up to one year, a fine not exceeding Sh1 million or both. They will also face lifetime bans from sports, match forfeiture and forfeiture of proceeds from sports manipulation.
Sports Kenya will be tasked with receiving reports of suspected match manipulation and will collaborate with other agencies in conducting investigations. All investigations on alleged match manipulations shall be completed within six months of the offence being reported.
“A person who participates directly or sports indirectly or aids, enables or assists in the manipulation of a sports competition commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or both,” the Bill says.
“Where a professional sports person or a club engages in conduct described in subsection (1), 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.”
Ke players in the match-fixing scandal in Kenya.
“Where the offender is a club or a professional sports person, they may be punished with additional disciplinary measures, additional 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 subject to forfeiture.”
Following the first reading on Wednesday, the Bill will now be subjected to public participation. The suggestions by the public will then be processed by the National Assembly’s Committee on Sports, after which the Bill will be introduced in Parliament for second reading.
In February 2020, Fifa banned four players over match-fixing in Kenya.
Kenyans Moses Chikati, Festus Okiring and Festo Omukoto were banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at the national and international level (administrative, sports or any other) for four years. Ugandan George Mandela was handed a lifetime ban from all football-related activities by the world football governing body.
Shabana's Samuel Maiko (left) vies for the ball with Ulinzi Stars' Festus Okiring during their Football Kenya Federation Premier league match on September 22, 2024 at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
In May 2025, Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee announced the expulsion of Muhoroni Youth’s senior team from the National Super League to the FKF Division One after the club was found guilty of manipulating matches. Fifa’s statement did not specify which matches were affected by the match-fixing scandal.
Patrick Matasi.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
The goalkeeper, however, maintained his innocence. In October 2025, the High Court in Kakamega struck out a petition by the goalkeeper, allowing FKF to proceed with disciplinary action against him over the allegation. The matter has not been resolved.
