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European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science ISSN: 2501 - 1235 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1235 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu Volume 3 │ Issue 10 │ 2017 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.1135323 UNBUNDLING THE KENYAN SPORTS ACT: ROLE, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE KENYAN SPORTS ACT 2013 Mugala Hannington Bulinda1i, Wahome Peninah2 1 Kenyatta University, Department of Physical and Health Education, Kenya 2 Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya Abstract: The Kenya National Assembly enacted the Sports Act 2013 after many years of suggestions, deliberations and proposals over the making of such a law. The Sports legislation is an Act of Parliament to harness sports for development, encourage and promote drug-free sports and recreation, to provide for the establishment of sports institutions, facilities, administration and management of sports in the country, and for connected purposes. This law has come up with various institutions namely Sports Kenya, National Sports Fund and Kenya Academy of Sports. It also provides for Financial Provisions, procedures for registration and regulation of sports and licensing, arbitration of Sports disputes and miscellaneous provisions. Furthermore, the Act has four schedules namely sports facilities to which the Act applies, matters to be provided for in the constitutions of sports Organizations, the conduct of business and affairs of the board of the authority, board of trustees and council of the institute and transitional provisions. Although the Act is very progressive in the domain of sports in Kenya and the entire East African region because it legitimizes institutions, provide for arbitration mechanisms and recognize research as a core aspect in sports, it has introduced a number of challenges to the sports fraternity. Among these, include aligning the constitutions of various Sports associations to the Act and undergoing the new vigorous process of registering, regulating and licensing sports agencies. Sports professionals therefore need to update with the new Sports Act to retain relevance in their profession and warrant them professional growth. Therefore, it was deemed relevant to enlighten Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 367 Mugala Hannington Bulinda, Wahome Peninah UNBUNDLING THE KENYAN SPORTS ACT, ROLE, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE KENYAN SPORTS ACT 2013 the practitioners of these new developments and seek for ways to upgrade their administrative strength and correct any inconsistency in this law through amendments to the Act. Keywords: Kenya National Assembly, Sports Act, Sports Kenya, National Sports Fund, Kenya Academy of Sports, arbitration, amendments 1. Introduction Sports in Kenya falls under the Ministry of Sports and the Arts headed by a Cabinet Secretary. These changes were made after the new constitution was promulgated and a new government under this law voted into office on March 4 th 2013(Kenya, 2010). Although the Sports Act 2013 had been enacted before the new government came into being, the changes in governance brought up new dimensions that laid much emphasis on sports including creating a Ministry for sports at times when other Ministries were being merged. The Sports Act 2013 was published by the Government Printer in the Kenya Gazette Supplementary on 25th of March 2013 after enactment by the 10th Kenya National “ssembly. The full title of the “ct which gives it mandate is that it is an Act of Parliament to harness sports for development, encourage and promote drug-free sports and recreation; to provide for the establishment of sports institutions, facilities, administration and management of sports in the country, and for connected purposes . The “ct establishes three main institutions namely Sports Kenya, National Sports Fund and Kenya Academy of Sports. The Act further has financial provisions, registration and regulation of sports and licensing, arbitration of sports disputes and miscellaneous provisions. Furthermore, the Act provides four schedules on sports facilities, matters to be provided for in the constitution of sports organizations, conduct of business and affairs of the board of the authority, board of trustees and council of the institute and transitional provisions. For viewing / downloading the full article, please access the following link: https://oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejep/article/view/1349 European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 3 │ Issue 10 │ 2017 368