Kenyan publishers are now urging the government to remove the 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on books.

Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) Chairman Kiarie Kamau, addressing a media briefing on Sunday, noted that the tax has made the price of books costly, thus making access to reading materials expensive.

“At 16%, this tax only serves to make books more expensive, hence unaffordable to the common mwananchi,” stated Mr. Kamau.

“We therefore call upon the government to scrap VAT on books, as a way of making knowledge affordable to all, hence promoting lifelong learning, and growing the knowledge economy.”

The KPA boss also announced the start of the 25th Edition of the Nairobi International Book Fair, starting on Wednesday through to Sunday, September 29, at the Sarit Centre Expo.

Mr. Kamau, who is also the MD of the East African Educational Publishers, noted that so far 150 million books have been supplied by the government for free to all public schools.

He further decried the increasing book piracy in the country, vowing that KPA in collaboration with the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) will continue to fight the menace.

Also during the event that was attended by KPA board members, the association announced 13 books shortlisted for this year's annual Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature.

The winners will be announced during the gala night for the KPA Jubilee celebration on September 29 during the book fair.