Are you a parent, guardian, or teacher struggling to find the right books for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC)? You’re not alone. With the rollout of CBC, many parents often wonder whether the books their children are using are the correct ones. To remove this confusion, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) publishes the official list of approved textbooks for use in Kenyan schools.
In December 2024, KICD released an updated Addendum to the Orange Book, confirming the latest approved learning materials for Pre-Primary to Junior Secondary School (Grade 9). This guide will help parents, guardians, and schools make informed choices by highlighting the list of approved textbooks across all grades.
Why KICD-Approved Books Are Important
Using KICD-approved books ensures that learners are engaging with content that has been carefully vetted by curriculum experts. The benefits include:
- Curriculum alignment: These books cover all CBC competencies and learning outcomes.
- Quality assurance: They undergo strict vetting by subject panels at KICD.
- Standardization: Learners across Kenya access consistent, uniform content.
- Smooth learning: Parents, teachers, and learners avoid confusion by following the same approved content.
For parents and teachers preparing for 2025, this official list is essential for budgeting, planning, and guiding learners effectively.
Pre-Primary 1 (PP1) & Pre-Primary 2 (PP2)
At this level, the CBC emphasizes foundational skills through play-based and activity-centered learning. Learners are introduced to language, counting, environmental awareness, creativity, and values.
Core Learning Areas:
- Language Activities
- Mathematical Activities
- Environmental Activities
- CRE / IRE
- Creative Activities
Sample of Approved Publishers for Pre-Primary
| Learning Area | PP1 Approved Publishers (Sample) | PP2 Approved Publishers (Sample) |
|---|---|---|
| Language Activities | Mentor, StoryMoja, Moran, Spotlight, KLB | Mentor, StoryMoja, Moran, Spotlight, KLB |
| Mathematical Activities | Starshine, Mentor, KLB, Moran, Longhorn | Moran, Mentor, KLB, StoryMoja, Longhorn |
| Environmental Activities | KLB, Mentor, Moran, Distinction, Longhorn | Mentor, Moran, KLB, Distinction, Longhorn |
| CRE | Mentor, Moran, StoryMoja, Longhorn, KLB | Longhorn, StoryMoja, Mentor, Distinction, EAEP |
| IRE | Atfaal | Atfaal, KLB |
| Creative Activities | StoryMoja, Mentor, Moran, Queenex, Distinction | Mentor, StoryMoja, Moran, Distinction, Longhorn |
Lower Primary (Grade 1–3)
You can download the full list here for your reference
Learners begin structured academic work with subjects like English, Kiswahili, and Mathematics. At this level, CBC promotes inquiry, creativity, and problem-solving.
Approved Textbooks for Grade 1–3 (Sample)
| Learning Area | Grade 1 Publishers (Sample) | Grade 2 Publishers (Sample) | Grade 3 Publishers (Sample) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Longhorn, Oxford, Mentor, KLB, StoryMoja | KLB, Oxford, Moran, Mentor, StoryMoja | Distinction, Longhorn, Oxford, Spotlight, KLB |
| Kiswahili | EAEP, Oxford, Longhorn, Mentor, KLB | Moran, Mentor, Oxford, KLB, Spotlight | Moran, Mentor, Oxford, Longhorn, KLB |
| Mathematics | KLB, EAEP, StoryMoja, Moran, Longhorn | Oxford, Mentor, Spotlight, Longhorn, StoryMoja | Distinction, Spotlight, Mentor, Longhorn, Oxford |
| Environmental Activities | Moran, Highland, EAEP, Longhorn, StoryMoja | Moran, Distinction, Mentor, Longhorn, StoryMoja | Moran, Mentor, Oxford, KLB, StoryMoja |
| CRE | Moran, KLB, Distinction, Longhorn, Spotlight | MTP, Mentor, KLB, Moran, Distinction | KLB, Spotlight, Oxford, Moran, Mentor |
| IRE | Atfaal, KLB, Spotlight | Atfaal, KLB, Spotlight | Atfaal, KLB |
| Hygiene & Creative Arts | Bookmark, Distinction, Moran, Champion | Hummingbird, Champion, Mentor, Distinction | Moran, StoryMoja, Champion, Mentor, KLB |
Upper Primary (Grade 4–6)
Subjects become more specialized, introducing Science & Technology, Social Studies, and Agriculture.
Approved Textbooks for Grade 4–6 (Sample)
| Learning Area | Grade 4 Publishers (Sample) | Grade 5 Publishers (Sample) | Grade 6 Publishers (Sample) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Moran, Access, Longhorn, Oxford, KLB | Oxford, Spotlight, Longhorn, KLB, StoryMoja | Oxford, Moran, Spotlight, Longhorn, KLB |
| Kiswahili | Spotlight, Access, EAEP, Mentor, Oxford | Mentor, Booklyst, EAEP, Oxford, StoryMoja | Longhorn, Access, Oxford, KLB, StoryMoja |
| Mathematics | StoryMoja, Moran, Booklyst, EAEP, KLB | StoryMoja, Longhorn, Moran, Oxford, KLB | StoryMoja, Spotlight, Longhorn, Moran, KLB |
| Science & Tech | Moran, Spotlight, Mentor, KLB, Longhorn | Booklyst, StoryMoja, Spotlight, Moran, KLB | Booklyst, KLB, Distinction, EAEP, Longhorn |
| Social Studies | Spotlight, Mentor, Oxford, Moran, EAEP | Moran, KLB, Spotlight, Mentor, Oxford | Spotlight, Longhorn, Moran, Distinction, EAEP |
| Agriculture | StoryMoja, MTP, Longhorn, Oxford, Mentor | MTP, Mentor, Booklyst, Longhorn, StoryMoja | MTP, Access, Mentor, Longhorn, StoryMoja |
| CRE | KLB, Moran, EAEP, Mentor, Longhorn | Spotlight, KLB, Mentor, StoryMoja, Oxford | Moran, One Planet, Spotlight, StoryMoja, Oxford |
| Creative Arts | Spotlight, Longhorn, Distinction, Mentor, Bookmark | KLB, Mentor, Spotlight, Moran, Access | Mentor, Spotlight, Moran, KLB, Hummingbird |
Junior Secondary School (Grade 7–9)
With CBC, JSS introduces new subject areas such as Pre-Technical Studies, Integrated Science, and Creative Arts & Sports.
Approved Textbooks for Grade 7–9 (Sample)
| Learning Area | Grade 7 Publishers (Sample) | Grade 8 Publishers (Sample) | Grade 9 Publishers (Sample) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Oxford, Distinction, Moran, KLB, StoryMoja | Oxford, Moran, Longhorn, KLB, StoryMoja | Oxford, EAEP, Moran, Booklyst, KLB |
| Kiswahili | Longhorn, Oxford, Spotlight, StoryMoja | Distinction, Mentor, Oxford, KLB | Spotlight, Access, KLB, Oxford, Moran |
| Mathematics | StoryMoja, Booklyst, Moran, Spotlight, KLB | StoryMoja, Moran, Booklyst, Longhorn, KLB | Oxford, Mentor, Booklyst, Access, KLB |
| Integrated Science | Moran, Access, Booklyst, Mentor, KLB | Mentor, Moran, Summit, MTP, KLB | Highland, EAEP, Spotlight, MTP, Moran |
| Agriculture | StoryMoja, Mentor, MTP, Longhorn, KLB | Healthy Planet, Sharp, Longhorn, MTP, StoryMoja | MTP, Access, StoryMoja, EAEP, Oxford |
| Social Studies | Moran, Access, Mentor, EAEP, KLB | Moran, Distinction, Spotlight, EAEP, Oxford | Longhorn, EAEP, Sharp, Mentor, Oxford |
| Pre-Technical Studies | Mountain Top, Moran, Distinction, Longhorn, Oxford | Moran, Longhorn, Mentor, Oxford, Spotlight | Spotlight, Oxford, Distinction, Mentor, KLB |
| Creative Arts & Sports | Hummingbird, Moran, Champion, Bookmark, KLB | Hummingbird, Moran, Champion, Mentor, Doritex | Hummingbird, Mentor, Moran, One Planet, Spotlight |
| CRE | One Planet, Moran, Mentor, KLB, Oxford | Moran, One Planet, KLB, Oxford, StoryMoja | EAEP, MTP, Longhorn, Oxford, Mentor |
| IRE | Atfaal, KLB | Atfaal, KLB | Atfaal, KLB |
Where to Buy KICD-Approved Books
- Official Publisher Bookshops such as KLB, Longhorn, Moran, and StoryMoja.
- Authorized Bookstores including Text Book Centre and Savanis.
- School Suppliers who bulk order for institutions.
- Online Stores run by publishers and reputable distributors.
Always confirm the book’s title, author, and publisher to avoid counterfeits.
Related Reading
To better understand current education reforms, check out these related posts:
These resources explain the latest teacher recruitment changes and how CBC implementation is shaping the education system in Kenya.
Final Word
Choosing the right CBC textbooks is not just about compliance but about ensuring learners get quality, approved, and standardized knowledge. With the new KICD-approved list for 2025, parents and educators can confidently prepare their learners from PP1 to Grade 9.
For the complete official catalog, always refer to the KICD Addendum to the Orange Book (December 2024) available on the KICD website or their offices.
