Meru: Publishers are urging the government to settle Sh9.5 billion in pending bills to help their firms stay operational.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) chairperson, Musyoki Muli, highlighted concerns that grade 11 students may not receive their textbooks on time next year due to mounting debts owed by the government.
Muli disclosed that twenty-one publishing firms are expected to print and distribute seven million copies of grade 11 textbooks and literature set books by the end of the year. However, during the ongoing Meru regional book fair, Muli mentioned that the delayed payments for previous supplies by the government are hindering this process.
He further explained that to meet the January 2027 school opening deadlines, suppliers must print and distribute over seven million copies of reading materials within a tight schedule. The production of these learning materials requires approximately 60 days for printing and an additional 30 days for nationwide distribution.
Muli warned that plans for the grade 11 rollout could be delayed due to the outstanding payments owed by the government for previously supplied reading materials. The chairperson highlighted that due to the significant pending bills, printers have yet to be paid close to Sh4 billion.
He stressed that delayed government payments are adversely affecting the entire book chain, with printers, distributors, authors, and other service providers struggling financially to keep their operations running. Muli appealed to the government to clear all outstanding bills before the end of the current financial year.
Muli noted that publishers have supplied over 200 million textbooks since 2018. He also urged county governments to allocate more funds towards early childhood development education (ECDE) learning materials and libraries’ equipping.
During the function, the association demonstrated its support by donating books worth 18 million to libraries in Meru County.
