Books and Newspapers Bill: digital copies due in 21 days

Get breaking business news on WhatsApp

The Books and Newspapers Bill would make digital publishers deposit copies within 21 days and raise failure fines to as much as KSh500,000. Committee amendments to the Books and Newspapers Bill listed on the National Assembly Order Papers of 5 and 10 November 2026 rewrite Cap. 111 for online books and newspapers. Printers and digital publishers both sit in the Books and Newspapers Bill compliance net.

Digital deposit rules in the Books and Newspapers Bill

Notice on the National Assembly Order Paper for Tuesday, 10 November 2026 shows the Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Committee moving amendments to the Books and Newspapers Bill at Committee of the Whole House. The amendments define a digital publication as an electronic book or newspaper accessible online or offline, and expand “book” to include printed or digital publication.

A publisher of a digital publication in Kenya would have to submit a digital copy within twenty-one days of publication to the Registrar, the Director of the Kenya National Library Service and the Clerk of the Senate, with a prescribed return. Technical specifications for file format, resolution, metadata and delivery would be set in regulations under a new paragraph in section 22. A six-month transition would delay one related section for book publishers after commencement.

Higher fines printers and publishers would face

Proposed new clause 2A raises the section 9 fine from a maximum of ten thousand shillings to one hundred thousand shillings (or up to one year in prison, or both). Another limb lifts a related fine ceiling from twenty thousand to five hundred thousand shillings. Colonial wording such as “the Colony” would be replaced with “Kenya”.

Print publishers still deliver physical copies under the rewritten deposit rules; digital-only houses gain a parallel electronic duty. Houses that already file with the Registrar should budget for dual formats once the Bill and committee text become law.

What happens next for the Books and Newspapers Bill

The Bill (listed as National Assembly Bill No. 47 of 2025 / related 2026 Order Paper business) is in Committee of the Whole with the amendments above on the Order Paper. The Books and Newspapers Bill is not yet assented law. Publishers unsure about other media rules can track related House business alongside consumer-facing Bills such as the nicotine pouch ban package.

Frequently asked questions

Do digital-only publishers have to deposit copies?

Under the committee amendments, yes — a digital copy within 21 days to the Registrar, Kenya National Library Service and Clerk of the Senate.

How high could the fine go?

Committee text raises one limb to KSh100,000 and another to KSh500,000.

Is this already mandatory?

No. The amendments are before Committee of the Whole and need passage and assent.