The match-fixing case probing three suspects, a Russian, a Ugandan and a Kenyan arrested following an undercover operation by Citizen TV in collaboration with police officers, was closed after the trio was set free.
Appearing before Makadara Law Courts on Monday, May 8, the suspects pleaded guilty to the charges of intent to commit a felony and were ordered to pay a Ksh200,000 fine each.
The charges instituted against the three contravened Section 393 of the Penal Code, which dictates that any person who conspires with another to commit any felony or to do any act in any part of the world which, if done in Kenya, would be a felony, is guilty of a felony.
It also stipulates a fine or a jail term of one-and-a-half years for suspects found guilty.
Nairobi City Stars Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Korir, who tipped the police and media, expressed disappointment in the outcome of the proceedings.
"I'm quite disappointed, but the ruling comes down to what we pointed out. Without any law on match-fixing, suspects caught or arrested will walk scott-free.
"It's my plea to the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture to speed the enactment of laws and introduce a penal code. Otherwise, we should expect more disappointments," he lamented.
The suspects were caught trying to pay off players from Nairobi City Stars to lose to Sofapaka during a Kenya Premier League match at Ruraka Grounds in March 2023.
Citizen TV anchor Mike Okinyi trailed the suspects to an apartment in Zimmerman, Nairobi, collaborating with police officers who conducted a 10-hour undercover operation.
The suspects, caught on camera, informed City Stars players that they would pocket Ksh1.8 million for fixing the game as they were instructed to concede goals during the first ten and final fifteen minutes.
As part of the deal, the players were also to bag Ksh30,000 each through mobile money transactions as transport to the match venue.
Police officers later swang into action and captured the three suspects.
