Ruiru MP Simon Kingara has thrown his weight behind the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, saying Kenya must move decisively to protect the integrity of competitions and safeguard the country’s growing sports industry from match-fixing and manipulation.
Speaking during debate on the Bill in Parliament, Mr Kingara described sport as a major economic asset with enormous potential to generate employment, nurture talent and enhance Kenya’s reputation globally.
“Sport is like a cash crop of this country. Unfortunately, we do not take it seriously,” Mr Kingara told MPs as he supported the proposed changes to the law.
He said greater investment and stronger regulation would help unlock the full potential of the sector, arguing that Kenya could derive significant economic and social benefits if sport was treated as a serious industry.
Mr Kingara’s intervention comes as Parliament considers measures aimed at strengthening the legal framework governing sports and confronting practices that threaten the credibility of sporting competitions.
Match-fixing and manipulation have emerged as major threats to the integrity of sport, with athletes, officials, clubs and other stakeholders potentially exposed to attempts to influence the outcome of competitions for financial gain.
The proposed amendments seek to strengthen safeguards against such practices and ensure that sporting contests are conducted in a transparent, fair and credible environment.
Mr Kingara said Kenya could not afford to allow unethical practices to undermine the achievements of its athletes, who have consistently placed the country on the international sporting map.
“Sports play an important role in nurturing talent, creating employment opportunities, promoting healthy lifestyles, fostering unity and putting our country on the global stage,” he said.
He argued that protecting the sector from manipulation was therefore not only about preserving fair competition but also about protecting livelihoods and the investments made by athletes, clubs, sponsors and the Government.
Kenya has for decades enjoyed a strong reputation in athletics, particularly in middle- and long-distance running, while football, rugby, volleyball, boxing and other disciplines have continued to attract thousands of young people.
The sports sector has also become an important avenue for employment and entrepreneurship, supporting athletes, coaches, referees, administrators, sports scientists, journalists, event organisers and businesses.
However, concerns over match-fixing, illegal betting and other forms of manipulation threaten to erode public confidence and discourage investment in the industry.
Mr Kingara said the proposed legislation should be viewed as part of broader efforts to give Kenyan sport the protection and attention it deserves.
He urged lawmakers and other stakeholders to support reforms that would ensure athletes compete on a level playing field and that sporting results are determined by talent, preparation and performance rather than financial inducements or manipulation.
The Ruiru MP said stronger laws, coupled with proper enforcement, would help create an environment where young people could pursue sporting careers with confidence.
The Bill is therefore expected to generate significant interest among athletes, sports federations, clubs, sponsors and other stakeholders as Parliament seeks to strengthen governance and accountability in the sector.
For Kenya, Mr Kingara argued, the stakes are high: sport is not merely entertainment but a powerful economic and social enterprise capable of transforming lives, creating jobs and building national pride.
He called for greater commitment from the Government and sports stakeholders to ensure the country fully harnesses the potential of its sporting talent.
The law, he said, should provide a firm foundation for a cleaner, more professional and competitive sports industry in which athletes are protected and genuine sporting excellence is rewarded.
