John M. Ohaga, SC, C.Arb, FCIArb, Senior Partner, Dispute Resolution at TripleOKLaw LLP, and Joy Wanyika, Associate, Dispute Resolution, have authored the Kenya chapter of Chambers Global Practice Guides: Sports Law 2026; one of the most authoritative international resources for in-house counsel, regulators, sports bodies, athletes and investors navigating the legal frameworks that govern sport. Covering close to 30 jurisdictions, including Kenya, this provides a perspective of the growing legal sophistication of the country’s sports sector and its relevance on the global stage.
Kenya’s sports industry has grown considerably in scale and complexity. Commercialisation, professionalisation and regulatory oversight have brought with them a corresponding demand for specialised legal advice. Sports law in Kenya today sits at the intersection of regulatory compliance, commercial rights, employment law, dispute resolution and integrity enforcement. For federations, clubs, athletes and commercial partners, understanding this landscape is no longer optional but essential.
Governance and the Sports Act
The Sports Act, 2013 remains the cornerstone of sports governance in Kenya, anchoring registration, governance standards and dispute resolution for sports organisations. The guide examines how the Act, together with sector-specific legislation and institutional rules, continues to shape how sport is organised and regulated, particularly through the jurisdiction of the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT). For any organisation operating in Kenya’s sports sector, compliance with this framework is a live obligation, not a formality.
Integrity, anti-doping and match-fixing
Integrity is one of the most consequential areas of Kenya’s sports law environment. Anti-doping enforcement, administered through the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, remains a defining feature, particularly in athletics, where Kenya’s global profile is highest. Violations are adjudicated before the SDT at the local level, while appeals involving international-level athletes go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The consequences are severe and often career-ending. Beyond doping, match-fixing and betting-related misconduct have emerged as persistent threats. While Kenya lacks a dedicated match-fixing statute, enforcement draws on criminal law, betting legislation and internal disciplinary frameworks and sporting sanctions frequently operate independently from criminal processes. Organisations and athletes need to understand both.
Commercial rights and broadcasting
Sports commercial rights in Kenya now extend well beyond traditional sponsorship to merchandising, image and endorsement rights, digital content, ticketing and data-driven fan engagement. Broadcasting remains a cornerstone of sports monetisation, and the contractual allocation of intellectual property, including archival, highlights and digital rights, has become increasingly commercially sensitive. If your organisation has not reviewed its commercial rights agreements recently, this is a timely prompt to do so.
Employment and dispute resolution
Player and coach contracts, termination disputes and salary arrears continue to generate litigation and tribunal proceedings. Kenyan courts have consistently emphasised the need to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms before escalating to the High Court, a point that is often overlooked, and costly when it is. The SDT remains the primary forum for sports-related disputes, with arbitration and mediation playing an increasing role in commercial and cross-border matters.
Emerging frontiers
Data protection, esports, NFTs and artificial intelligence are already intersecting with sport. Existing legal frameworks are beginning to apply, and organisations that are not thinking about this now will be managing risk later.
The full Kenya chapter is available on the Chambers and Partners website via this link. You can download other jurisdictions’ reports at this link