This archive report was first published on 22 September 2019.
On September 20, 2019, the Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) and six other companies were awarded a tender worth billions of shillings to supply textbooks to 1.2 million Grade Four pupils under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The seven companies will publish 14 textbooks, which the government will distribute to schools in January 2020 as the new curriculum rolls out to Grade Four.
According to the evaluation report, the companies will print a total of 16 million books for all 14 subjects.
During the evaluation, seven companies were shortlisted to supply Kiswahili books, while eight applied for Science and Technology, seven for Agriculture, two for Home Science, and two for Mathematics.
Kenya Publishers Association Chairperson Lawrence Njagi expressed confidence that the books will be ready by November, saying, "It's our hope that the Ministry of Education will ensure that the books are ready on time."
Mr. Njagi also highlighted the importance of the 22nd Nairobi International Book Fair, which will focus on the role of books in daily life.
Kenya Literature Bureau Managing Director Victor Lomaria stated that the agency had prioritized the delivery of books for the new curriculum, saying, "Our publishing department has been working hard, day and night, with support from other units to ensure we submit Grade 4 CBC books in good time."
