Meru: The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) has urged the government to expedite the settlement of an outstanding Sh9.5 billion to facilitate the printing and distribution of Grade 11 textbooks, an initiative projected to require an additional Sh4.5 billion.
According to Kenya News Agency, KPA Chairperson Musyoki Muli emphasized their commitment to supporting the Ministry of Education in providing quality, accessible, and timely learning materials to Kenyan learners during the official opening ceremony of the Meru regional book fair. “A good partner in a noble role like education requires full support, and that is our cry today,” Muli stated.
Muli detailed that the next major phase of textbook supply is planned between September and December 2026, focusing on Grade 11 learners under senior school. This significant national undertaking involves 21 publishing firms collectively supplying 35 different textbooks to learners across the country. To meet the January 2027 school opening deadline, publishers are expected to print and distribute approximately 7 million copies within a tight timeline. “Printing alone will require about 60 days, followed by an additional 30 days for nationwide distribution. The success of this exercise, therefore, depends heavily on timely preparation and adequate financial support,” Muli explained.
Muli also highlighted the financial strain the publishing industry faces due to outstanding payments owed by the government for previously supplied textbooks, which could jeopardize the Grade 11 rollout. “This situation has had far-reaching consequences across the entire book value chain, making it impossible for publishers to supply books for Grade 11 because we rely on a host of stakeholders such as printers, distributors, authors, and other service providers in the production chain,” he noted.
Printers are owed close to Sh4 billion, affecting their financial dealings with banks for paper and print-related imports, he added, with the ripple effect extending to institutions such as the Kenya Revenue Authority. Consequently, many publishing houses are operating under immense pressure, struggling to sustain daily operations while preparing for the large-scale Grade 11 textbooks rollout. Muli mentioned that the Grade 11 textbooks are ready and awaiting tenders for supply, with publishers currently working on Grade 12 until August this year. “We work for the Kenyan child, and our focus is quality and timely delivery,” he affirmed.
Muli assured that the Kenyan publishing industry continues to play a central role in supporting the government’s education agenda, particularly in achieving and sustaining the one-textbook-to-learner ratio in public schools. “This partnership between the Ministry of Education, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, and the Kenya Publishers Association has, since 2018, enabled the successful supply of more than 200 million textbooks to learners across the country,” he concluded.
