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Government falls behind in textbook distribution
Oxford University Press Publishing Lead Rosemary Jepchirchir (right, in blue t-shirt) briefs Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba (left) on the school books on display during the launch of the distribution of Grade 10 textbooks at English Press Ltd offices on January 22, 2026.
What you need to know:
- Ogamba acknowledged that more than 450,000 students are yet to access textbooks required for their studies.
- The Cabinet Secretary also said the government has achieved 98 per cent transition of grade 10 students.
The government has fallen behind its January deadline to supply textbooks to schools nationwide, managing to distribute only part of the required learning materials so far.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has placed the status of the book distribution at 60 per cent as of Sunday (February 1, 2026). However, Mr Ogamba said the textbooks will have been fully distributed in a week’s time.
“By February 10, all the books will have been distributed,” Mr Ogamba said on Sunday.
Mr Ogamba also acknowledged that more than 450,000 students are yet to access textbooks required for their studies.
Last month, the CS indicated that learning was underway across the country as the ministry raced to meet the January 31 deadline to fully equip schools.
Education CS Julius Ogamba, when he appeared before MPs during the 2026 Legislative Retreat for Members of the National Assembly, at Lake Naivasha Resort in Naivasha, Nakuru County, on January 28, 2026.
At the time, Mr Ogamba explained that an accumulated Sh11 billion debt owed to publishers was the reason for the delay in the distribution of Grade 10 textbooks, adding that part of the long-standing debt had been settled.
The stand-off had left many of the 1.13 million pioneer Grade 10 learners idling or relying on digital notes as they transitioned into the first year of senior school.
Mr Ogamba also said that the government has achieved 98 per cent transition of grade 10 students.
Many learners had been locked out of schools for various reasons, including lack of school fees and other essentials.
According to Mr Ogamba, schools across the country had as of Sunday admitted over 1.1 million students.
This, he said, follows President William Ruto’s directive to schools’ heads to admit all learners, including those without school fees or school uniforms.
“At the point of that directive, we had attained 92 per cent admissions. So there was 8 per cent remaining. As of Sunday, we have done 98 per cent. That is over 1.1 million students,” Mr Ogamba said.
Education stakeholders have previously raised concerns that delayed learning materials could widen inequalities between well-resourced schools and those in marginalised areas.
Meanwhile, speaking on Sunday when he visited hospitalised teachers at a Nairobi hospital following a fatal road crash on Saturday evening, Mr Ogamba urged all road users to be extra careful.
“A loss of life is a painful experience as we all know,” the CS said.
Two people died and several others were injured in the accident that happened outside City Primary School in Nairobi.
A police van at the scene where a matatu ploughed into pedestrians outside City Primary School in Nairobi on January 31, 2026.
According to the police, the driver of the matatu lost control of the 33-seater vehicle and knocked down a group of people who were celebrating the outcome of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) elections outside City Primary School in Nairobi.
At the same time, more than three dozen teachers and learners in separate accidents fell victims of road crashes over the weekend.
According to the Ministry of Education, two learners died and 27 others were injured in a road accident in Nyeri on Saturday morning.
Additional reporting Mercy Mwende
