Book traders protest against payment delay

Booksellers have protested against the delay by government in releasing funds to support free education.

They claim the Treasury is yet to release funds to support this year’s free primary education and free day tuition in secondary schools.

The Kenya Booksellers and Stationers Association (KBSA) said members were owed over Sh7 billion for supplies, especially to secondary schools, from late last year to date.

The association, which has more than 1,000 members, said it was assured by the Ministry of Education that the funds would be released by the Treasury.

Some contradiction

“There appears to be some contradiction in the way relevant government ministries are handling the education sector because they do not release the funds promptly,” said KBSA chairman Arthur Kamau.

The government had indicated that it would release the funds in tranches — 50 per cent in the first term, 30 per cent in the second term and 20 per cent in the third term.

Last year, Parliament resolved that each pupil at primary school level should be allocated Sh3,180, up from Sh1,060.

The allocation for a learner at secondary school level was set at Sh20,530 per year, up from the previous Sh10,265.

“It is unlikely that members will receive payment for arrears incurred by public schools for previous supply of books and stationery amounting to over Sh7 billion because of the existing weak institutional infrastructure to audit the funds,” said Mr Kamau.

He said publishers were on the necks of booksellers, demanding payment for supplies they received on credit “but our hands are tied because public schools are our major customers”.