Best Book Publishers in Kenya for Authors

Choosing the best book publisher as a first-time author can be challenging due to the lack of knowledge needed to make a decision on which book publisher is ideal in terms of cost and quality. Based on our findings, below are the best book publishers in Kenya.

Jomo Kenyatta Foundation

The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation publisher is one of the oldest publishing companies in Kenya. JKF focuses on publishing educational books.

Longhorn Publishers

Longhorn Publishers is one of the most popular book publishing companies in Kenya that focuses on educational and creative books.

Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press is one of the most popular book publishing companies in Kenya. It focuses on publishing course books and reference materials.

Moran Publishers

Moran Publishers is a publishing company in Kenya that has published popular books like The River and the Source, Skills in English, Breakthrough Workbooks, CBC books, etc. Moran Publishers focuses on publishing educational books.

Phoenix publishers

Phoenix publishers is a book publisher in Kenya that publishes educational books at an affordable price.

Storymoja Publishers

Storymoja is a book publishing company in Kenya that publishes children's books, textbooks, revision books, career resources, etc.

Spotlight Publishers

Spotlight Publishers which was formerly known as Target Publications is a publishing company that focuses on publishing course books. It also publishes revision books, literature textbooks, and coloring books.

Mystery publishers

Mystery Publishers Limited is an independent publisher that offers print on demand and digital publishing services.

Epsilon Publishers

Epsilon is an established publisher in Kenya that provides services like printing, publishing, and editorial to institutions.

Factors to Consider Before Publishing a Book

Cost: The cost of publishing a book in Kenya varies depending on book size, quality, and formatting options. The general price is about Ksh. 200 per page. Most book publishers will give you a discount if you publish a large number of books. There are also the costs for editing, proofreading, and design.
Book Type: Established publishers in Kenya usually prefer books that target the school market. Therefore, as a creative writer, you may opt for a small publisher or self-publish. For self-publishing, it is recommended to write for a wide audience to stand a chance of getting substantial sales in digital marketplaces like Amazon Kindle.
Self-publishing vs Traditional Publishing: Most people do not take self-published books seriously unless you are a reputable creative writer like Jackson Biko (of Bikozulu). However, you might be lucky to get high sales if you self-publish high-quality educational books and gain traction online.
Marketing: Think about how you will reach your book's target audience after publishing. Big bookshops in Kenya, like Text Book Centre, will hardly stock your book if you are not a popular author. Booksellers are after profits and want something that is in demand. It is even worse for self-publishers because you will need to invest in self-marketing, as bookshops won't accept books not originating from a traditional publisher.