There is a major ongoing controversy in Kenya’s education sector. It involves Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok and a fierce internal battle at the Ministry of Education over a massive Sh7 billion textbook procurement tender managed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).
What’s Happening?
- KICD had advanced the procurement process for textbooks needed for Grade 11 learners (under the Competency-Based Curriculum — CBC — senior school rollout, scheduled to begin in January 2027).
- PS Bitok is accused of stalling or blocking the tender, creating a standoff between the Ministry and KICD.
- This “book wars” tussle threatens to delay or derail the supply of critical learning materials, leaving Grade 11 students without textbooks when schools reopen next year. standardmedia.co.ke
This textbook scandal unfolding at the Ministry, with publishers on edge and schools potentially affected. It builds on existing challenges in textbook supply for senior schools (Grade 10 has already faced shortages and distribution issues earlier in 2026).
Broader Context;
Kenya’s transition to CBC senior secondary has been plagued by procurement delays, funding shortfalls, and disputes over textbook approval and distribution:
- Earlier in 2026, the government released billions (e.g., Sh5.6 billion for Grade 10 books), but pending bills to publishers have ballooned (reaching Sh7.7 billion at one point due to additional procurements and printing costs).
- There have been repeated complaints about shortages, ghost students in capitation, and tussles over who controls lists for distribution.
- KICD approves and evaluates books for various learning areas, while the Ministry (via PS Bitok) handles policy, funding release, and final approvals.
This latest storm highlights deep internal divisions (“book wars”) that could impact millions of learners as the CBC rolls out fully to Grade 11. If you’re a parent, teacher, or stakeholder in Kenyan education, this is worth watching closely, as it directly affects senior school preparedness.
