By James Wakahiu
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Stakeholders in the education sector have called on the government to end stalemate with publishers to avoid a crisis ahead of Grade 10 rollout next year.
The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) has been demanding Sh 11.4 billion from the government accrued from the supply of books for grade 9 learners and the rationalization of lower primary books.
The pioneer Competency Based Education (CBE) learners set to join senior school in January 2026 will require about 7 million copies of text books and literary works.
The publishers warn that unless the payment is made, there could be a major crisis and delay in providing text books for Grade 10 students, who are the first cohort of the new Competency Based Education (CBE) system to enter senior school in January next year.
(KPA) chairperson, Kiarie Kamau recently said that the publishers are ready to supply textbooks for at least 35 learning areas for Grade 10.
The textbooks have been scheduled for delivery between October and December 2025, ensuring that learners will have access to the materials at the start of the new academic year.
The payment delay has left the publishing industry severely cash-strained and caused ripple effect throughout the book value chain including affecting printers and distributors.
The sentiments have been echoed by stakeholders who maintain that the delay in payment could affect the smooth delivery of learning materials, potentially disrupting teaching and learning in schools across the country.
The stakeholders who spoke at Grasten Academy school in Witeithie, Juja sub county in Kiambu County on Tuesday averred that learners and parents are at crossroads as clock ticks towards 2026.
Led by the institution’s Director Josephine Wanjiru Waweru, they maintained that learning will be put in jeopardy if the matter is not addressed swiftly by the relevant authorities.
“The curriculum is at a critical stage and it’s imperative that all players play their part to ensure smooth learning and transition of grade 9 learners to grade 10. We are pleading with the government to settle the dues owed to publishers to facilitate publishing of adequate teaching and learning materials,” Wanjiru said.
She quipped that the State through the mandated authorities should provide adequate resources to publishers as well as address other challenges in the publishing industry including the 16 percent VAT which has affected publishers’ business.
“The Government should prioritize ensuring that there are no hiccups when learners move to grade 10. Again they should recognize that publishing is also a business and ensure that issues affecting publishers are promptly addressed,” the Director said.
AIPCA Bishop Paul Muhia echoed the sentiments saying that payment of the dues owed to the publishers will go a long way in ensuring that learning materials are of high quality and affordable.
He also urged the government through the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to streamline the curriculum to avoid the confusion of changing books the last minute.
“We witnessed last year books being changed the last minute and it was a huge blow especially to parents who had to dig deeper into their pockets to purchase new books for their kids. We should avoid this confusing by ensuring that the books printed won’t be changed so as not to burden parents,”Bishop Muhia said.
Parents led by Lilian Njeri and Mary Wacera pleaded with the government to facilitate a smooth transition of learners to grade 10 by ensuring availability of all resources including adequate books, facilities as well as teachers.
“The issue with publishers is critical and we are worried about the fate of our children’s education,” Njeri said.
Njeri added, “The delays in paying the debts threatens the timely delivery of learning materials and could leave students without textbooks at the start of the new academic year. The government should pay up to avoid disruptions in the education sector”.
