By Brian Rajula | April 3, 2026
The National Assembly Committee on Broadcasting and Library has engaged key stakeholders, including the Media Council of Kenya and the Kenya Publishers Association, in ongoing efforts to refine the proposed Books and Newspapers (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The Committee, chaired by Daniel Nanok, held the session at Parliament Buildings in line with Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution, which mandates public participation in the legislative process.
The proposed Bill seeks to amend Section 6 of the Books and Newspapers Act (Cap 111), requiring publishers to submit up to three copies of every book published in Kenya to the Clerk of the Senate within 14 days, at their own cost. This is in addition to the existing requirement of submitting copies to the Registrar of Books and Newspapers.
The legislation further introduces a provision mandating publishers to submit digital copies of their publications to various institutions, including the National Library Services, the Kenya National Archives, the Senate, and the Registrar.
Additionally, the Bill proposes amendments to Sections 14 and 17 of the Act by replacing the outdated term “the Colony” with “Kenya,” in a move aimed at aligning the law with the country’s post-independence legal framework.
Appearing before the Committee, MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo emphasized the need to align the proposed law with constitutional provisions on freedom of expression and media independence.
He urged lawmakers to review clauses that could potentially create barriers to media establishment, particularly outdated requirements such as publisher and printer bonds.
“MCK believes that these issues are important in ensuring that any amendments to the Books and Newspapers Act support a modern, pluralistic and constitutionally compliant media environment,” Omwoyo stated.
The Council also submitted a detailed memorandum outlining proposed amendments for consideration.
On its part, the Kenya Publishers Association, represented by Council member Musyoki Muli, called for the creation of a centralized repository to ease access to books and newspapers, instead of requiring publishers to distribute multiple hard copies to different institutions.
The association also raised concerns over the proposed 14-day compliance period, terming it too short for publishers to meet the requirements.
“Fourteen days is the shortest time given. We wish to be given at least one month or even more,” Muli told the Committee.
In response, lawmakers urged the association to focus specifically on the amendments outlined in the Bill.
“You have spoken to a lot more. This Committee feels you are handling a bigger space in relation to what is expected of you. We want you to speak to the amendment of the Bill,” Chairperson Nanok directed.
Muli subsequently requested more time to submit a comprehensive memorandum addressing the specific provisions of the proposed legislation.
The Committee is expected to continue reviewing stakeholder submissions before finalizing its recommendations on the Bill.
