The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) is urging the government to eliminate the 16 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on books to enhance literacy in the country.
According to KPA, this tax has made books prohibitively expensive for the average citizen. Chairperson Kiarie Kamau explained that the high cost of living has reduced purchasing power, resulting in lower sales of general reading materials.
At a media briefing, Kamau said, “Even though publishers are benefiting from government textbook tenders, sales of general reading materials through bookshops have diminished. A quick check on the market indicates that Kenyans are prioritizing food, which means items like books are being pushed aside.”
He continued, “We therefore call upon the government to scrap VAT on books as a way of making knowledge affordable to all, promoting lifelong learning, and growing the knowledge economy.”
The association also called on the government to strengthen measures against piracy, emphasizing that the industry continues to struggle with the illegal distribution of digital products being sold at low prices via social media. “When someone downloads or shares a copyrighted book without paying for it, the author and book publisher lose out on potential revenue,” Kamau noted.
In January 2023, the KPA reported losses of up to Sh200 million annually due to piracy of set books. Additionally, they urged the government to expedite contract signings to allow for the printing and distribution of grade 9 books between September and December, in preparation for the first term starting in January 2025.
Kamau expressed appreciation for the government’s efforts in centralizing textbook purchases, stating that more than 150 million copies have been supplied to schools in Kenya. “Currently, the Kenyan publishing industry is in its golden era, thanks to the government’s commitment to supplying textbooks to public schools,” he added.
He highlighted the mutually beneficial nature of this collaboration, noting, “Each learner in Kenya has a textbook for each learning area. The government has achieved its goal of supplying high-quality teaching and learning materials, and Kenyan publishers have benefited from government tenders. This has also created jobs in the industry, and the government gains through various taxes paid by publishers.”
The KPA also invited the public to the 25th Nairobi International Book Fair (NIBF), scheduled for September 25 to 29, 2024, at the Sarit Centre in Westlands, Nairobi. This year’s theme celebrates 25 years of excellence and innovation in publishing.
A key highlight will be the awarding of the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature in adult, youth, and children’s categories in both English and Kiswahili. However, there will be no Wahome Mutahi Prize for literature this year, as none of the submissions met the required standards.
