26 publishers to share Grade 11 textbook tender as Sh7billion debt looms

Twenty-six publishers have secured contracts to supply textbooks and literary materials for Grade 11 learners in public schools, in a multibillion-shilling procurement ahead of the transition to senior school in January 2027.

The awards cover core subjects, specialised learning pathways and prescribed literature for the pioneer cohort under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.

State-owned Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) emerged among the biggest beneficiaries, securing supplies for 12 subjects and one literature title.

Mountain Top Publishers won eight subjects and one literature title, while East African Educational Publishers (EAEP) secured four subjects and five literary titles.

Other successful publishers include Booklyst, Moran Publishers, Mentor Publishers, Oxford University Press East Africa, Longhorn Publishers, Storymoja, OnePlanet Publishers, Doritex, Magic Papers, Frontrow, Highland and Hummingbird.

KLB will supply books for French, General Science, Music and Dance, Arabic, German, Computer Studies, Metal Work, Marine and Fisheries, Media Technology and Islamic Religious Education.

EAEP will supply English, Essential Mathematics, Chemistry and Agriculture textbooks, alongside literature titles including The Parting Clouds and Voices from the Woods. Mountain Top Publishers will supply materials for Business Studies, Christian Religious Education, Agriculture, Geography, Home Science, Wood Work and Sports and Recreation.

The procurement document does not disclose individual contract values, quantities or the total budget, despite the lucrative nature of the textbook market serving approximately one million learners currently in Grade 10.

The distribution exercise began on October 6 and will run until October 23 before pausing for national examinations. It will resume on weekdays and continue until December 23, 2026.

Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Migos Ogamba flagged off the distribution of Grade 11 textbooks and literary texts to schools across the country, marking a major milestone in the implementation of Competency-Based Education (CBE).

KICD Council Chairman Prof Simon Gicharu urged the Ministry of Education to provide publishers with enhanced, timely and adequate facilitation to ensure smooth delivery of the books.

He also called for accurate and complete data on schools, learner numbers and subject choices to prevent delays, oversupply or shortages.

KICD Council Chairperson, Prof. Simon Gicharu, assured stakeholders that the approved Grade 11 textbooks and literary texts had undergone a rigorous evaluation process to ensure that they meet the required curriculum goals and standards of relevance, accuracy, quality and inclusivity.

“I have no doubt that they will immensely contribute to the process of nurturing the learners’ potential and producing an Engaged, Empowered and Ethical citizen,” said Prof. Gicharu.

Gicharu noted that KICD, in line with its mandate, continues to play a central role in the development, evaluation and approval of curriculum designs and support materials as the country implements CBE.

“I also urge the Ministry of Education to supply the Institute with timely, complete and accurate data on the number of schools, number of learners and their subjects to avoid delays, oversupply and/or undersupply of textbooks,” Gicharu said.

KICD Chief Executive Officer Prof Charles Ochieng’ Ong’ondo urged school principals to ensure staff are present to receive the deliveries.

“The distribution will continue after examinations during weekdays until December 23. Principals are urged to ensure that there will be staff present in schools to receive the books,” he said.

The rollout comes amid concerns over government debts to publishers. Ong’ondo said the State owed publishers Sh9 billion as of September 1, but had paid Sh2 billion, leaving approximately Sh7 billion outstanding.

Kenya Publishers Association chairman Musyoki Muli confirmed the partial payment, saying the debt relates to earlier supplies for primary schools, junior schools and Grade 10. He said publishers were not owed money for the new Grade 11 deliveries, but warned that the outstanding bills continue to affect their operations.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the government was committed to observing distribution timelines and providing the resources required to support implementation.

KICD has also cautioned schools against using unapproved learning materials, warning that the practice is unlawful under Section 27 of the KICD Act, 2013.