Functions Of Kenya Literature Bureau

This article focuses on the functions of the Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB). It is a state corporation under the Ministry Of Education that was founded in 1947. It was initially known as the East African Literature Bureau, before changing to Kenya Literature Bureau in 1980.

KLB is home to some of the world’s top authors, researchers and experts in book publishing and printing. It prides itself on providing high-quality educational publications; school and college textbooks, dictionaries, autobiographies, storybooks, e-books and high-end printing services.

The mandate of the bureau is contained in the Kenya Literature Bureau Act, Cap 209 (Revised 2012).

Functions Of Kenya Literature Bureau

1. Carry on the business of publishing, printing and distributing literary, educational, cultural and scientific books, periodicals, journals, magazines, digital & electronic materials and works of every description.

2. Acquire copyrights and licenses over literary and other works of every description.

3. Promote, through appropriate government agencies the production of low-cost adult literacy, educational, cultural, scientific literature, materials and make them available for distribution within and outside Kenya.

4. Promote, encourage and assist authors within and outside Kenya, through financial incentives or otherwise, to publish scholarly works.

5. Make available for general readership, through translation from foreign to local languages, works of interest and value to the public.

6. Organise competition in respect of literary contributions suitable for publication by the bureau and grant prizes of rewards on such terms as it may deem fit.

7. Co-operate with such other bodies as are engaged in publishing, printing and distribution of books, periodicals, journals and magazines.

8. Publish, print and sell educational materials at reasonable prices so as to make them available to schools and other educational institutions.