This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
Published on September 20, 2019, the Ministry of Education in Kenya has taken a bold step to protect the well-being of school children by banning the book Blood Ties.
The book, penned by South African author Zimkhitha Mlanzeli, was found to contain content that is not suitable for minors, prompting a massive online debate on social media.
According to an official communication from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the Ministry of Education disowned the book, stating that it was not approved for use in schools.
"This book is not approved by KICD. It's not in the list of books that schools should use for teaching, learning and instructional purposes. Not all books in the market are approved," read KICD's tweet.
As a result of the Ministry's warning, bookshops and textbook centers were forced to take the book off the shelves due to its open vulgarity.
Teachers who continue to use the book for instructional purposes risk facing a 3-year prison sentence if caught.
