The Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture has commenced stakeholder discussions on the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Sponsored by nominated MP Irene Mayaka, the bill has received backing from sports organizations though they suggested enhancements to improve enforcement effectiveness.
Under the leadership of Dan Wanyama, the session included 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 legislation aims to amend the Sports Act, Cap. 223, with its core focus being criminalization of competition manipulationa significant international issue that undermines the authenticity of sporting events.
Mayaka stressed that the bill is intended to protect sporting integrity. Participants endorsed the initiative but requested Parliament to expand its scope to address other integrity challenges including doping, corruption, fraud, and unethical conduct that diminish public trust in athletics.
A key recommendation emerged from ADAK, whose representatives claimed that the agency’s current investigative frameworks, intelligence capabilities, and specialized expertise qualify it for an expanded mandate.
They suggested converting ADAK into a National Sports Integrity and Anti-Doping Agency, authorized to investigate competition manipulation and other integrity violations. Stakeholders additionally advocated for provisions enabling the agency to conduct investigations independently, facilitating prompt action even without formal complaints.
Regarding dispute resolution, attendees noted that the bill’s appeal provisions are too limited, proposing they encompass a broader spectrum of integrity-related conflicts.
However, they recognized that the Anti-Doping Act already offers a strong appeals process via the Sports Disputes Tribunal.
The Kenya Academy of Sports warned against overlapping responsibilities in talent identification and development, requesting clearer role definitions and enhanced institutional cooperation to ensure synchronized athlete development.
Stakeholders suggested that federations should manage team preparations for international competitions, with Sports Kenya offering logistical support. They also emphasized that matters such as work permits, visas, and tax exemptions for athletes should remain with appropriate government departments to prevent duplication.
The Committee will now evaluate the submitted recommendations before preparing its report on the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which will be presented to the House for further deliberation.