NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s Government Printer has raised the alarm over decades of neglect that have left the department struggling to meet the nation’s printing needs.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Delegated Legislation, Government Printer CEO Ali Abdi described the department’s equipment as outdated and inefficient, with some machines dating back to 1963. The newest machine, he said, was installed in 1983.
“The Government Printers are in the proverbial intensive care unit. We are using old machines to print Bills, the Hansard, and regulations to ensure Treasury runs,” Abdi told MPs.
According to Abdi, the worn-out machines are no longer capable of handling modern printing requirements, affecting the department’s ability to produce critical government documents efficiently.
While the department still prints essential materials such as the Kenya Gazette and title deeds, other items like logbooks, birth certificates, visas, passports, and ballot papers are increasingly printed abroad, costing the country billions of shillings.
“All these documents are printed outside the country, including even our ballot papers. Save for the presidential ballot papers, why should we have the rest printed abroad? We have the land, facilities, and over 500 experienced staff; what we lack is modern machinery,” he said.
Abdi urged lawmakers to approve funds for a full modernisation of the department, noting that the President has already formed a task force to propose reforms.
He stressed that investing in modern equipment would reduce costs and enhance efficiency in government operations.
