Education CS Julius Ogamba flags off distribution of Grade 10 textbooks at English Press Ltd in Nairobi on January 22, 2026. /MoE
Distribution of Grade 11 textbooks is expected to begin in September, publishers have announced, offering relief to schools preparing for the next phase of the Competency-Based Education (CBE).
The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) said the printing of the textbooks, a critical component of the learning process, has been completed, and publishers are now preparing for nationwide distribution.
Speaking in Nairobi on Monday, Kenya Literature Bureau Managing Director George Okeyo said the books had moved beyond the production stage and were ready for dissemination to schools.
"We are in the process of producing books for Grade 11 which already, as we talk, are in the production department, right from publishing to printing and now the dissemination of the same information to the market," Okeyo said.
KPA chairman Musyoki Muli said publishers had now shifted their attention to the preparation of Grade 12 textbooks even as they await payment of pending bills owed by the government.
"What we are working on now right on the tables of editors is Grade 12. Grade 11 must be distributed from September because it takes around a month to print and package for every school in this country," Muli said.
According to Muli, framework agreements have already been issued to publishers, who have completed corrections on the approved manuscripts.
A total of 21 publishers were contracted to print and distribute seven million Grade 11 textbooks and literature set books by the end of the year.
The latest update comes months after publishers raised concerns that delays in settling pending government bills could affect timely delivery of the learning materials.
In May, KPA warned that continued delays in payments amounting to Sh9.5 billion could disrupt production and distribution schedules.
Speaking during the Meru Regional Book Fair on May 29, Muli acknowledged that timelines were tight but expressed confidence that publishers would meet the deadlines.
"Printing alone will require about 60 days followed by an additional 30 days for nationwide distribution," he said.
At the time, KPA said the government owed publishers Sh6.2 billion for primary school textbooks, Sh2.5 billion for secondary and senior school learning materials, and Sh780 million for junior school books supplied during the 2024/25 financial year.
The dispute over unpaid bills had triggered a standoff late last year, with publishers threatening to halt the printing of Grade 10 textbooks until the government honoured outstanding obligations.
In March, the government acknowledged an outstanding debt of Sh13.3 billion but said it had already paid Sh5.6 billion earlier in the year.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) recently informed school principals that distribution of the first phase of Grade 10 textbooks had been completed.
The institute directed school heads to submit updated records showing the number of books received against student enrolment to facilitate reconciliation of distribution data.
Principals were given until June 19 to submit the information.
Every learner is supposed to receive one textbook for each of the learning areas to attain a 1:1 textbook-learner ratio across all schools.
The pioneer cohort of Grade 11 learners is expected to transition to Grade 12 in January 2027.
The updated records are expected to guide subsequent textbook distribution following student transfers between schools and pathway changes that created discrepancies during the first phase of distribution.
