By KPC Sports Reporter
The Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture has opened stakeholder consultations on the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Bill is sponsored by nominated MP Irene Mayaka, with leading sports institutions voicing strong support while proposing refinements to strengthen its enforcement.
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The session, chaired by Dan Wanyama, drew representatives from the Office of the Attorney-General and Department of Justice, the State Department for Sports, Kenya Academy of Sports, Football Kenya Federation (FKF), the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), the Association of Gaming Operators Kenya, the Sports Disputes Tribunal, and Athletics Kenya.
The Bill seeks to amend the Sports Act, Cap. 223, with its central provision criminalizing manipulation of sports competitions — a growing global concern that threatens the credibility of sporting events.
Mayaka emphasized that the measure is designed to safeguard integrity in sport. Stakeholders welcomed the initiative but urged Parliament to broaden its scope to capture other integrity risks such as doping, corruption, fraud, and unethical practices that erode public confidence in sport.
A notable proposal came from ADAK, whose representatives argued that the agency’s existing investigative structures, intelligence systems, and technical expertise position it to take on a wider mandate.
They recommended transforming ADAK into a National Sports Integrity and Anti-Doping Agency, empowered to investigate competition manipulation and other integrity violations. Stakeholders further pressed for provisions allowing the agency to initiate investigations independently, enabling swift intervention even in the absence of formal complaints.
On dispute resolution, participants observed that the Bill’s appeal provisions are too narrow, suggesting they be expanded to cover a wider range of integrity-related disputes.
However, they acknowledged that the Anti-Doping Act already provides a robust appeals mechanism through the Sports Disputes Tribunal.
The Kenya Academy of Sports cautioned against duplication of roles in talent identification and development, calling for clearer delineation of responsibilities and stronger collaboration among institutions to ensure coordinated nurturing of athletes.
. Stakeholders proposed that federations lead in preparing teams for global competitions, with Sports Kenya providing logistical backing. They further urged that matters such as work permits, visas, and tax exemptions for athletes remain under the jurisdiction of relevant government agencies to avoid overlap.
The Committee will now review the views presented before compiling its report on the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which will be tabled for further consideration by the House.
