Sports Bill 2026 proposes National Sports Authority to strengthen governance in Kenya

By FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG 

 

Kenya’s sports sector could be set for a major regulatory overhaul following the unveiling of the Sports Bill 2026, which proposes the establishment of a National Sports Regulatory Authority (NSRA) to enhance governance, compliance and integrity across all sporting disciplines.

The draft Bill was presented to Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya by a taskforce appointed in November 2024 by then Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen. 

The taskforce was mandated to review the country’s sports policy, legal and institutional framework to ensure it aligns with the realities of modern sport.

Chaired by Senior Counsel John Ohaga, the taskforce underscored the urgency of reform, noting that Kenya’s existing legal framework has struggled to keep pace with the evolving demands of professional and grassroots sports.

Under the proposed law, the NSRA will be responsible for registering sports organisations, licensing sports education institutions and academies, accrediting training centres, and approving sports talent development programmes.

It will also license professional sports bodies and support personnel, positioning the Authority as the central regulator of Kenya’s sports industry.

Beyond regulation, the NSRA is expected to play a developmental role by collecting, integrating and disseminating sports market information to support structured growth within the sector. 

The Authority will also be tasked with promoting quality assurance standards and reinforcing principles of integrity, inclusivity, non-discrimination and transparency at all levels of sport.

The Bill further provides for the establishment of a Sports Integrity Unit under the NSRA to receive, investigate and address cases of integrity breaches, a move aimed at safeguarding fair play and accountability.

According to the draft legislation, the Authority will be headed by a Chairperson appointed by the President, with its headquarters based in Nairobi, placing it at the heart of national sports administration and oversight.

Speaking during the presentation of the Bill, CS Mvurya described the proposed reforms as long overdue, stressing the need for deliberate investment in sports governance.

“This Draft Bill and the entire framework to reform sports are timely,” Mvurya said. “For a long time, sports have not received a lot of attention. We have a big profile as a country, but we have not invested enough in critical reforms.”

He added that the Bill provides a clear roadmap for transforming Kenya’s sporting ecosystem and unlocking its full potential.

“This Draft Bill gives us guidelines to make a big transformation. With the policies I have received today, I am confident we are on the right track,” he said.

The Sports Bill 2026 draft has been made available on the Ministry of Sports website, with the Cabinet Secretary urging Kenyans to actively engage in the public participation process.

“We are not closed to input and consultation,” Mvurya said. “We want everybody to get an opportunity to make the change we want to see in sports in this country.”