Kenya: Booksellers Stop Supply to Public Schools

A lobby group yesterday resolved to stop supplying books to public schools. The Kenya Booksellers and Stationers Association made the move for what they termed as a result of government inconsistency in releasing funds to support the free learning programme. The announcement was made during the National Executive Council meeting at a Nakuru hotel on Tuesday. (By Rita Damary - Nairobi Star)

They said that hey had directed their members not to supply instructional materials to schools due to a pending debt of Sh4 billion. KBSA National chairman John Mbugua said the outstanding debt had accrued after Education Minister Professor Sam Ongeri announced in late July that the government had released Sh7 billion to public schools. "It is unfortunate that we are forced to terminate our credit facilities to support free learning program because the government has failed to honor its pledge in releasing the funds to schools," he said.