The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) has been forced to scale down its printing operations due to financial issues.
The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation is a leading publisher of learning materials in the country and has been in operation for decades.
According to the firm’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), James Mworia the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the organization’s revenue streams.
The closing of all learning institutions following the outbreak of the global pandemic has led to a decline in demand for learning materials which affected the cash flow of the organization.
The government closed all schools in March 2020 after the first case of COVID-19 was developed in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
In addition, Mworia said that the organization was also facing stiff competition from other publishers in the market which had caused a reduction in its market share.
He said that the JKF was looking at alternative sources of revenue such as online sales and partnerships with other publishers in order to remain afloat.
The JKF is a non-profit organization that was established in 1966 to provide high-quality and affordable learning materials to learners across the country.
JKF has been producing textbooks, revision guides and other educational materials for more than five decades.
The organization has played a crucial role in improving access to education in Kenya, especially in rural areas.
The reduction in JKF’s printing capacity is a significant setback for the education sector because this will limit access to affordable high-quality learning materials.
The government and other education stakeholders have to chip in and support the organization and ensure that it continues to play its role in educating Kenyan students.