The printing of academic certificates and other vital government documents is facing disruption as the Government Printer struggles with mounting debts and obsolete equipment. Examination papers, title deeds, gazette notices, logbooks, birth certificates, Acts, Bills, and electoral materials are among the documents threatened by the agency’s financial crisis.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Special Funds Accounts, Government Printer Chief Executive Officer Abdi Hassan warned that persistent budget shortfalls and lack of modern machinery have forced the agency to outsource sensitive printing tasks. He cautioned that outsourcing not only increases costs but also compromises efficiency and security.
Hassan told MPs that while the agency has highly trained personnel and sufficient expertise, it lacks the capacity to handle critical assignments such as printing examination papers or ballot papers for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). He argued that investing in modern equipment would secure government operations and generate revenue.
ALSO READ:
“Government Printer is the nerve, the skeleton and the driving force for this great country. If not modernised and if something is not done as far as debts and budget allocation are concerned, then it will be bound to fail. Hon. Members, all the Acts, Bills in the 47 counties, the title deeds, the logbooks, birth certificates, mention any accountable document, are all done at the Government Printer for security reasons,” Hassan said.
He appealed for adequate budget allocation, noting that outsourcing costs could be redirected back to government coffers if the agency was properly funded.
Committee chairperson Fatuma Mohammed of Migori clarified that the committee is an audit body and cannot allocate funds. However, she pledged to raise the matter in the House. “We are an audit committee, and we cannot give you a budget, but we can be your witness that, due to debts, you are not able to move. By next week, we will table a motion and ask for statements on these institutions that owe you money, and, in that process, maybe we can put a voice to your request for budget,” she said.
The Government Printer had been summoned to respond to queries arising from the Auditor General’s report on financial statements for the 2022/2023 to 2024/2025 financial years. The audit highlighted long‑standing debts amounting to Sh475,448,391 accumulated between 2017 and 2022, with recovery considered doubtful.
ALSO READ:
KICD calls for confirmation of Grade 10 textbook distribution to give way for next phase
Management acknowledged the auditors’ findings, noting that efforts to recover the debts had been made but with limited success. Among the notable debtors are the IEBC, the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, all of which owe significant amounts for printing services.
The agency warned that unless urgent measures are taken to modernize equipment and clear debts, the production of academic certificates and other critical government documents could grind to a halt, jeopardizing service delivery and national security.
By Masaki Enock
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
