Also known as: KICD
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development — government body responsible for curriculum development, textbook approval, and distribution to schools, currently owed Sh9 billion by publishers.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development
Every mention in the Kenyan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
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The Standard
Usawa Agenda Executive Director Emmanuel Manyasa during the launch of the 2026 Junior School Education and Senior School Survey Reports at KICD in Nairobi on August 19, 2026. …
Report shows many learners at Senior School can't read or do basic mathsCitizen Digital
… The launch of SomaPlay, a digital platform created by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and eCitizen, is a game changer. …
OPINION: Beyond the Stage: Kenya's arts are now a core economic engineCapital News
… t and Funding Bill, 2026; Basic Education Bill, 2026; Kenya National Educational Assessments Council Bill, 2026; Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training Bill, 2026; Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development …
MPs to consider six bills seeking sweeping reforms in education sectorCapital News
… abinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to consider four key pieces of legislation: the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, the Kenya National Educational Assessment Council (Amendment) Bill and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development …
MPs begins scrutiny of bills proposing sweeping education sector reformsThe Standard
… Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Director and CEO Prof Charles Ong’ondo noted that the festival serves as a practical stage for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) Arts and Sports Science pathway. …
National Music Festival gains momentumThe Standard
… The proposed amendments designate school heads as agents of the Principal Secretary responsible for Basic Education, providing greater legal clarity on their administrative roles.Lawmakers further reviewed proposed amendments to the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD …
MPs pushing funding, governance overhaulThe Standard
… Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Director Prof. Charles Ong’ondo said that assistive technologies are no longer optional but essential tools for implementing inclusive education under CBE. …
Special Needs learners call for inclusive learning at Kenya Music FestivalCitizen Digital
… Speaking on behalf of corporate partners including the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), KCB, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), and other stakeholders, Equity Bank Regional General Manager for Nyanza and Western region, Peter Akuoyo, revealed that the lender had fi …
Govt eyes creative economy billions with new push to commercialise student talentThe Standard
… Through the fellowship, Njoki hopes to secure accreditation for the content through the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), paving the way for nationwide adoption in schools. …
EdTech startups secure Sh155m to boost learning innovationThe Standard
It has now emerged that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) is yet to pay publishers more than Sh9 billion for textbooks supplied to public schools. …
KICD yet to pay publishers Sh9b over textbook policy gap as Grade 11 rollout nearsPresident William Ruto has reappointed Prof. Simon Gicharu as non-executive chairperson of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development for a second three-year term, coinciding with KICD's recognition as Africa's Best Public Institution of the Year at the 2026 Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards.
18 October 2026 · The Standard →
President William Ruto has reappointed Prof. Simon Gicharu as non-executive chairperson of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development for a second three-year term, coinciding with KICD's recognition as Africa's Best Public Institution of the Year at the 2026 Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards.
18 October 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development warns schools risk legal action for using textbooks and learning materials not approved by KICD, as such materials could expose learners to inaccurate and poor-quality content. Publishers separately raised alarms over textbook piracy, accusing some head teachers of photocopying and reproducing books supplied to schools.
7 October 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has warned schools that using textbooks and learning materials not approved by KICD risks legal action and exposes learners to inaccurate and poor-quality content. Publishers separately raised concerns about textbook piracy, accusing some head teachers of photocopying and reproducing books.
7 October 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has begun distributing Grade 11 textbooks and literary works to schools ahead of the first cohort of Competency-Based Education learners advancing to Senior School in January 2027. The distribution, which started October 6 and will continue until December 23 with a break during national examinations, aims to give schools time to prepare materials before learners report.
6 October 2026 · Capital News →
Ten years ago, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development published needs assessment reports across early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary education that consistently identified critical thinking, reflection and decision-making as essential competencies for a new Kenyan curriculum.
1 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
KUPPET and KNUT have taken opposing positions on the proposed management structure of Junior Schools, with KUPPET calling for them to operate as autonomous institutions headed by post-primary trained teachers, while disagreement centers on whether primary school supervisors should have secondary-level teaching qualifications.
29 September 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's Political Parties Fund allocates millions in annual taxpayer shillings to political parties, yet the parties function as ethnic mobilisation machines and personality cults lacking genuine political education, coherent policy positions, or internal democracy. The Registrar of Political Parties lacks mandate to require that publicly funded parties educate their members and leaders.
19 September 2026 · The Standard →
Members of the National Assembly have asked the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to explain the status of textbook distribution to public secondary schools.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →
Parliament's Public Investments Committee is investigating payments by national secondary schools to the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESHA), with some schools paying as much as Sh6 million. The committee wants to establish whether KESHA is legally entitled to receive public funds and whether its activities are subject to audit by the Auditor-General.
4 September 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's universities need to evolve their teaching methods and collaborate with school Boards of Management and the Commission for University Education to accommodate the first cohort of learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum, which emphasizes competence, creativity, and adaptability over memorization and conformity.
21 August 2026 · The Standard →
A 2026 Junior School Education and Senior School Survey Report shows that after seven years in school, nearly three in every 10 learners are joining Junior School without being able to read and understand a simple Grade 3 story or solve a basic Grade 3 mathematics problem.
20 August 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that Kenya's creative economy is becoming a core engine of economic growth, with the arts sector strengthened by global shifts toward valuing human creativity and digital skills in the AI age. The author cites the 98th National Kenya Music Festival and notes that Kenya is demonstrating educational synergy between arts and technology, while developed nations still adjust their policies.
14 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The National Assembly will consider six Bills proposing reforms across Kenya's education sector, targeting basic education governance, national assessments, curriculum development, teacher training, tertiary education funding and qualification recognition. The Bills, sponsored by the Leader of the Majority Party, have been committed to the Education Committee for consideration and public participation.
12 August 2026 · Capital News →
The National Assembly's Committee on Education has begun scrutinizing four proposed Bills aimed at implementing recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform. The key legislation includes the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, which would merge tertiary education financing bodies and introduce a means-testing system for student support based on household income and financial need.
6 August 2026 · Capital News →
The National Music Festival in Bungoma County has showcased talent from both established and little-known schools. Standout performers include Utwiini Primary School from Makueni County, which finished second in its category, along with winners in various competitions including Nzoia Sugar School in Choral Music for Junior Schools and Highlands Junior School in the Swahili Choral Verse category for Junior Schools.
6 August 2026 · The Standard →
The National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Education is reviewing four education reform Bills aimed at restructuring student funding and strengthening governance in learning institutions. A key proposal is the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, which seeks to merge the Higher Education Loans Board, Universities Fund Board, and TVET Funding Board into a single Tertiary Education Funding Authority.
5 August 2026 · The Standard →
Learners with disabilities performed at the 98th Kenya Music Festival national edition, calling for greater investment in assistive technologies, accessible learning environments, and equal opportunities. The festival has placed Special Needs Education at the heart of celebrations, becoming a platform for national conversation on disability inclusion and unlocking the potential of learners living with disabilities.
5 August 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's government announced plans to commercialise student talents to tap into the global creative economy, aligning educational programmes with national economic priorities. The Basic Education Principal Secretary stated the state aims to turn co-curricular activities into viable economic pathways as part of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
4 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Twelve Kenyan education technology startups have received $100,000 each in equity-free funding under the fourth cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship at iHub, with an 18-month programme offering business advisory, mentorship, and investor linkages to accelerate digital learning innovations.
30 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has not paid publishers more than Sh9 billion for textbooks supplied to public schools, with the institute attributing the backlog to the lack of a clear policy governing the procurement and funding of learning materials.
17 July 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that new publishers entering the school textbook market through curriculum changes should spread their bets and proceed cautiously, as governments remain the primary customer and competition from established and new entrants continues to intensify.
11 July 2026 · The Standard →
The 1,693 ECDE teachers in Meru received salary increases following implementation of a scheme of service, with certificate, diploma, and degree holders now eligible for career progression across specified job groups. The county also introduced a feeding programme and upgraded classroom facilities, measures the union says will improve morale and service delivery.
11 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Literature Bureau has sought Parliament's intervention to recover more than Sh251 million in long-outstanding debts from government institutions, citing cash flow challenges and threats to financial stability. The Auditor-General reports KLB has trade receivables of Sh1.05 billion, with Sh251.5 million unpaid for over 90 days.
8 July 2026 · The Standard →
At the 98th Kenya Music Festival, learners are using poetry, music, dance and elocution to tackle social, economic and environmental challenges. A school from Taita-Taveta County demonstrated high performances with messages on financial literacy, environmental conservation, human-wildlife conflict, integrity, education, peace and youth empowerment.
7 July 2026 · The Standard →
The 2026 Kenya Music Festival, underway under President Ruto's creative economy agenda, will integrate professional artists who are not necessarily teachers into the program to mentor students. This year's festival theme focuses on enhancing the creative economy through artistic expression for sustainable development.
1 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving access to affordable menstrual health products by supporting local manufacturing, maintaining tax incentives on sanitary products, and strengthening partnerships. The commitments were highlighted during the adoption of the Kenya Menstrual Economy Conference (KMEC) 2026 Declaration at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development in Nairobi, where stakeholders from government, development partners, manufacturers and civil society endorsed a roadmap to transform the country's menstrual economy.
1 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development says teachers should not take offence when learners correct them, as the Competency-Based Education system is designed to nurture confident, questioning students who explore their individual potential rather than competing against one another.
29 June 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has been awarded the most productive State Corporation at the inaugural National Productivity and Performance Conference 2026, maintaining Excellent Productivity ratings with a Productivity Index of 4.746 in FY 2024/2025. President William Ruto presented the award at Kenya School of Government in recognition of KICD's exceptional productivity, innovation, and operational efficiency.
19 June 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that despite technological constraints on printing in the 1980s–1990s, popular East African fiction thrived during that period but has since declined, with the author attributing the shift to smartphones and textbooks replacing mass-market entertainment novels.
6 June 2026 · The Standard →
Following a fire at Utumishi Girls Senior School that revealed the institution had admitted 715 students despite a 650-student capacity, questions have emerged about communication breakdowns between the ministry headquarters and schools, including delays in admission reporting and uncertainties around capitation disbursement and textbook distribution.
5 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →