The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has raised an alarm over a Ksh 11 billion debt that the government owes textbook publishers and printers, warning that the growing crisis is now threatening the smooth supply of learning materials across the country.
According to the lobby, the unpaid bills have crippled operations in the sector and placed the production of Grade 10 textbooks at serious risk ahead of the learners’ transition in January 2026.
KAM says the debt has been piling up since 2022, mainly for the printing of Grade 8 and 9 books, and has now grown to a level that manufacturers and publishers can no longer sustain.
The association warns that unless the government urgently clears the backlog, Kenya could face a textbook shortage early next year.
Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO Tobias Alando said that the delivery of CBC learning materials depends entirely on publishers and printers, whose responsibility is to produce books on time and in large volumes.
“It is therefore paramount for the government to urgently clear the pending bills to prevent a potential textbook supply crisis in January 2026 when schools reopen,” Alando said.
The association explains that textbook production requires long lead times. Printers need at least 60 days to print and another 30 days to distribute books to schools across the country.
When contracts from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) are issued late, companies struggle to meet these timelines and are forced to rely on costly credit facilities.
KAM says this financial pressure has now reached a breaking point, leaving the sector unable to take on new work for Grade 10 materials.
Alando warns that the debt has severely destabilised operations for manufacturers and printers. He notes that businesses are under intense strain and may not be able to support the rollout of the CBC curriculum without immediate intervention.
“This debt has severely strained the financial operations of printers and manufacturers, posing a significant risk to the continued rollout of the CBC curriculum, especially for Grade 10 learners expected to transition to senior school in January 2026,” he said.
To ease the crisis, KAM is urging the government to provide Letters of Credit for all KICD contracts. This, the lobby says, would guarantee financial security for publishers and allow printers to access materials without risking collapse.
KAM is also pushing for contracts to be issued earlier, noting that delays cascade through the entire production chain and leave companies with little time to deliver books nationwide.
Most of the paper used in printing textbooks is imported, which further complicates matters. Printers typically order paper months before KICD awards contracts to ensure readiness for expected orders.
But in many cases, the paper ends up sitting in warehouses for months while publishers wait for printing allocations. KAM says that this delays cash flow, adds storage costs and puts more pressure on companies that already paid for the materials upfront.
Alando explains that global supply timelines leave printers with almost no breathing room.
“The standard credit period from suppliers is generally 90 days, starting from the Bill of Lading date. However, 45–60 days are consumed by shipping and customs clearance, leaving only about 30 days after the goods are cleared. During this period, a significant portion of the supplier’s credit period has already elapsed,” he said.
By the time the materials are available locally, printers have already run down most of their credit days and must begin repayments long before they receive their own payments from publishers or the government.
Kenya’s book production system relies on a long chain of players. The government funds KICD, which commissions approved textbooks. Publishers develop the content, coordinate printing and distribute the books.
Printers handle the physical production. However, publishers only receive full payment after every school receives its books, meaning printers must wait even longer, sometimes more than six months, to be paid.
Alando says some printers have waited over a year due to distribution challenges faced by publishers, pushing printing companies into deeper financial distress.
KAM is calling for a streamlined procurement system that aligns timelines, speeds up delivery and reduces financial pressures.
The lobby also wants textbook printing to be zero-rated for VAT, arguing that removing the tax would lower production costs and ease cash flow challenges for manufacturers and publishers.
Kenya’s printing industry has grown significantly in recent years and has the capacity to meet national demand. The country has more than 10 major printers capable of producing over 250 million textbooks a year.
The stationery and exercise book segment can produce around 60,000 metric tonnes annually. Meanwhile, over 106 registered publishers operate in Kenya, producing nearly all the country’s educational materials.
The backbone of this sector, the paper and paperboard value chain, includes local manufacturers, converters and printers, representing investments of nearly Ksh 100 billion.
KAM warns that this vital ecosystem is now at risk because companies cannot operate without payment.
With Grade 10 learners set to transition to senior school in just a few months, industry players fear that without immediate financial intervention, the education system could face disruptions that affect millions of learners.
KAM says the solution lies in the quick settlement of pending bills, better contract management and early planning to ensure stability in the supply of textbooks for the CBC curriculum.
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