Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the distribution of Grade 10 textbooks at English Press Ltd on January 22, 2026, as the government prepares for the 2027 transition to competency-based education (CBE) in senior schools. Twenty-six publishers have secured tenders to supply Grade 11 textbooks, with state-owned Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) awarded contracts for 12 subjects and one literature title. The move follows a Sh7 billion backlog of unpaid bills for textbooks supplied to public schools, according to official records.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) finalized the evaluation and procurement of Grade 11 textbooks, confirming readiness to distribute them to senior schools by January 2027. With approximately one million Grade 10 students currently enrolled, securing a tender for core subjects offers publishers guaranteed bulk sales. The government’s shift to CBE, which replaces the traditional academic track with skill-focused learning, necessitates this large-scale textbook procurement to support the first cohort of learners entering senior secondary education under the new system.
Public-interest concerns arise from the Sh7 billion outstanding payments to publishers, raising questions about the Ministry of Education’s financial management. While the tender process aims to ensure textbook availability, critics highlight the risks of delayed payments disrupting supply chains and affecting educational quality. KLB’s role as a state-owned entity in supplying 12 subjects underscores the government’s reliance on public institutions for critical educational materials during the CBE rollout.
The KICD’s announcement marks a pivotal step in Kenya’s education reform, with Grade 11 textbooks set to be distributed ahead of the 2027 academic year. The selection of 26 publishers reflects a strategy to diversify textbook production, though the financial liabilities and implementation challenges remain under scrutiny. As the nation transitions to CBE, the success of this procurement effort will hinge on timely payments, quality control, and alignment with the new curriculum’s objectives.