Printers halt Grade 10 textbooks production over Sh4bn unpaid bill

By Newsflash Writer

Printing companies have halted production of Grade 10 textbooks due to an outstanding government debt of Sh4 billion for books supplied for Grades 8 and 9 since 2022.

The impasse now threatens to derail the smooth rollout of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum. According to a spokesperson for the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), operations within the printing sub-sector have nearly ground to a halt because of the delayed payments, leaving firms without resources to continue production.

The first cohort under the CBE is expected to transition to Grade 10—the entry point for senior secondary school—next year, but without new textbooks, the continuity of the education reform faces disruption.

Publishers and printers in financial distress

“Due to non-payment by publishers, printers are unable to proceed with the production of Grade 10 textbooks, placing the implementation of the CBE at risk,” the KAM spokesperson said. “The unpaid bills have crippled the financial operations of printers and manufacturers, posing a major threat to the ongoing rollout of the CBC curriculum as Grade 10 learners prepare to join senior school in January 2026.”

The debt is owed to publishers contracted by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to develop and supply textbooks to public schools.

These publishers then subcontract printers to produce the books but can only pay them after the government clears its own bills—a process KAM says happens only after all contracted deliveries are completed. Publishers remain unpaid for textbooks supplied to Grades 8 and 9, leaving them unable to settle their obligations to printers.

The backlog of unpaid bills has pushed printing firms into deep financial distress, with some defaulting on supplier payments and tax remittances. Since 2019, Kenyan publishing companies contracted by the government have collectively produced more than 200 million textbooks under the CBE programme. However, the current debt has forced printers to borrow to meet monthly VAT obligations and sustain operations, further tightening their cash flow.

Plea to government

KAM has urged the government to prioritise clearing the outstanding debt and consider issuing letters of credit to publishers and printers as a payment guarantee once contracts are completed. The association also called for timely contract awards, given that the textbook production process takes at least 60 days for printing and another 30 days for distribution. “Late contract issuance disrupts the production cycle and forces publishers and printers to rely on expensive credit facilities,” the KAM spokesperson noted.

Last month, the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) accused KICD of delaying payments for books already delivered, worsening relations with printers. KICD, however, declined to comment, saying it only contracts publishers on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

KPA chairperson Mr Kiarie Kamau confirmed that no printing or distribution of Grade 10 textbooks has begun, as printers are refusing new orders until they are paid. He said the money has been owed for over a year. “We warned about this crisis a month ago. Printers are saying they won’t print another book until they are paid,” Mr Kamau said. He added that the government owes publishers Sh10 billion, while publishers owe printers Sh4 billion of that amount.

Mr Kamau, who also serves as CEO of East African Educational Publishers, said that while KICD has already approved the Grade 10 books, the delayed payments have severely affected operations across publishing houses. “Publishing margins are very thin. If a publisher borrowed to fund this project, their profits are now wiped out. It’s crippling the entire business,” he explained.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Prof Julius Bitok had not responded to Newsflash’s inquiries.