Government urged to promote publishing industry

By PATRICK GITHINJI

Former Vice-President Moody Awori has challenged the Government to provide incentives to publishing industry to create more jobs and spread learning materials.

"By strengthening the sector we will not only grow the economy, but also create more jobs. Local publishers also need to encourage local and young authors so that they can write about Kenya’s heritage as a way to market our country, as a cultural and tourism destination," Awori said.

The call comes at a time the industry earnings has been battered by unfriendly tax regimes. He challenged local publishers to consider pursuing electronic publishing aggressively so as to in tandem with fast changing technology.

Awori was speaking during the launch of Moran East Africa Publishing company at a Nairobi Hotel. The publisher previously traded as Macmillan Kenya, but was acquired by Kenyans and will continue providing books published by Macmillan.

"If the Government supported the sector the cost of textbooks would become more affordable and reachable for many Kenyans who live in poverty."

Moran Publishers Managing Director David Muita, called for increased funding from the the government arguing poor parents and pupils were disadvantaged as it forced parents to pay more for books.

"Industry figures indicates that an average cost of a single lower primary textbook is Sh220, upper primary Sh 280 while it is Sh 300-400 at secondary school. " Muita said.

An industry report further explains that there is textbook shortage in schools. "Sh 500 availed for books per child annually is not enough to buy all the textbooks a child needs, it doesn’t add up to a ratio of 1:1 when one recalls some books were bought eight years ago." The normal shelf life of a good schoolbook is three to four years.