Grade 10 rollout in peril over Sh11b publishers' debt

Kenya Publishers Association led by chairman Kiarie Kamau at a press briefing in Nairobi on October 7 2025. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

The transition of learners to Grade 10 under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is in jeopardy as the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) warns of an impending textbook shortage caused by a staggering Sh11.4 billion government debt.

KPA chairperson Kiarie Kamau said the government’s failure to pay publishers for books already supplied to learners in Grades 1 to 9 has left the industry financially crippled, threatening the timely rollout of new Senior School learning materials.