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Kenya

Booksellers worst hit by teachers strike

 Over 85 percent of the book industry in the country relies heavily on educational books.  Photo/FILE.


Over 85 percent of the book industry in the country relies heavily on educational books. Photo/FILE.

NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 20 – The ongoing teachers strike has greatly affected book sellers in the country who recorded dismal sales since the beginning of September.

Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) Chairman David Waweru on Saturday said if the strike continues, publishing firms will be counting huge losses.

“Schools are closed just at the beginning of the term no books will be bought, already the industry is struggling with the weakening of the shilling that has seen costs go up by 30 percent, some firms will end up getting out of the market,” he told Capital FM News.

Waweru has called for dialogue between the teachers and the government to end the stalemate that will have a ripple effect in the economy.

Over 85 percent of the book industry in the country relies heavily on educational books.

“For the sake of the bigger picture, both entities need to sit down and dialogue, they all need to make a compromise,” he added.

Teachers in public schools are on strike, vowing not to teach until the government implement a court order that awarded them between 50 and 60 per cent pay increase.
The crisis has escalated in the country for three weeks, leading to Friday’s order to have all public and private schools closed until the situation is resolved.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion on Friday said teachers were not moved by the government’s order to close all private and public schools in the country.

“Teachers will remain on strike until such a day that the government decides to pay them as ordered by the court,” he said.

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