Castalia Signs MoU with Kenya’s Largest Bookstore Chain, TEXT BOOK CENTRE, for Educational Business Collaboration

Contributing to ICT Human Resource Development and Economic Growth through Sales of Programming Materials and Digital Education Initiatives

Castalia Co., Ltd. (CEO: Satoshi Yamawaki; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter “Castalia”) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TEXT BOOK CENTRE (Head Office: Nairobi, Kenya; CEO: Sachin Varma; hereinafter “TBC”), Kenya’s largest bookstore chain, to collaborate as local business partners in Kenya.
Under this partnership, Castalia will offer a wide range of its educational materials through TBC’s consumer retail network and school-focused sales network, jointly advancing educational initiatives across the country.
Photo: Castalia Director Yokokawa and TBC Head of Retail, Ms. Joy Okumu


■ Details of the Partnership

TBC operates 12 stores nationwide and is one of the largest bookstore chains in Kenya. Alongside general books, TBC also offers textbooks, teaching materials, stationery, PCs, printers, and other office supplies. Some of its stores also feature event spaces.

In October and November 2024, Castalia hosted a free children’s programming boot camp at TBC’s store in Sarit Centre, a shopping mall in Nairobi. The event was well-received by participating children and their parents. Building on this success, Castalia plans to conduct similar boot camps regularly, with an expanded scale.

Additionally, Castalia’s proprietary programming education materials will be sold at TBC stores, expanding learning opportunities for more students.

TBC also maintains business relationships with approximately 300 of Kenya’s top-tier private schools (out of around 3,000 nationwide). Through TBC, Castalia will pursue the sales of educational materials and offer on-site demonstration lessons to these schools​.
Photo: Programming workshop held at the TBC store in Sarit Centre

■ Background of Castalia’s Expansion in Kenya

The Kenyan government has identified ICT industry development as a key national policy, and efforts to introduce ICT in schools are actively underway. With the distribution of devices and the rollout of a new curriculum, ICT human resource development is also being emphasized at the foundational education level.

However, despite progress in hardware deployment, a shortage of digital teaching materials and curriculum has prevented the full realization of ICT education’s potential. In particular, the lack of programming-related materials and teacher training frameworks has hindered broader implementation.

In response to this challenge, Castalia has been selected for a Public-Private Partnership Program by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Castalia develops high-quality programming curricula and teaching materials, which it provides through its mobile learning platform, aiming to complement public education with private-sector solutions. The company also established its local subsidiary, Goocus Africa, in 2023 and is driving scalable and agile business development in partnership with local enterprises and universities.

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TEXT BOOK CENTRE is one of the largest distributors of educational, cultural, and technological content and products in East and Central Africa. It was founded in 1964 by Kenyan entrepreneurs S. V. Shah and M. J. Rughani, and has seen remarkable growth over the decades.
Now a leading bookstore chain in Kenya, TBC operates in retail, wholesale, and distribution, meeting the diverse needs of the Kenyan education market.
Photo: Exterior view of the TEXT BOOK CENTRE store located inside Sarit Centre, a shopping mall in Nairobi

■ About Castalia Co., Ltd.

Castalia Co., Ltd. operates with the mission of “solving social issues through education and IT.” It develops and provides the mobile learning platform “Goocus,” together with its original programming education materials. Its operations span beyond Japan to the Middle East and Africa, contributing to sustainable development through expanded educational opportunities and ICT human resource development.