How pending text book bills could mar Grade 10 transition

Education PS Julius Bitok engages Grade 10 students at Moi Girls Kamangu High School in Kiuyu, Kiambu County, on January 15, 2026. [George Njunge, Standard

A crisis could be looming for Grade 10 learners as the government delays the disbursement of funds for the publishing and printing of textbooks.

At the time of enrollment, the government had not released funds for Grade 10 textbooks, adding to Sh5.4 billion in pending bills for Grade Eight and Nine textbooks.

The pending bills have been blamed for delays in publishing and printing textbooks. Stakeholders note that books ought to have been delivered to schools before learners reported.

Publishers and printers of Grade 10 textbooks are now in a race against time to meet the distribution deadline at the end of this month.

With Grade 10 enrollment underway, thousands of learners are set to begin classes, but schools are still awaiting the delivery of textbooks.

According to the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA), printers are currently working to produce books in time to meet the deadline.

KPA chairman Kamau Kiarie said distribution of textbooks is ongoing even as production continues, despite the government owing publishers Sh5.4 billion in pending bills for Grade Eight and Nine textbooks.

The government plans to distribute Grade 10 textbooks in two tranches, a move that stakeholders warn could create room for counterfeit books to enter the market.

Between 2022 and October 2025, the government owed printers more than Sh11 billion. Earlier this year, in an effort to clear pending bills for Grade Eight and Nine textbooks, about Sh5.6 billion was disbursed.

“The amount released cleared publication costs for Grade Eight and Grade Nine. Currently, Grade 10 is pending allocation of funds,” said Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) chief executive Tobias Alando, noting that following a government request to complete the printing of Grade 10 textbooks, most publishers and printers are proceeding out of goodwill.

KICD chief executive Prof Charles Ong’ondo told publishers that the institute had received Sh5.6 billion from the Ministry of Education.

Prof Ong’ondo confirmed that KICD had initiated the process of disbursing the funds to 23 publishers with pending bills to ease the financial strain on the industry.

Publishers have already commenced printing the 35 approved textbooks and literary works for Grade 10 learners, even as they await payment.

They have committed to distributing at least 50 per cent of the required books to schools by January 16, and to completing 100 per cent printing and distribution by January 31, 2026.

Earlier delays in payment meant some printers temporarily halted production of Grade 10 textbooks, putting the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) at risk.