Text Book Centre Opens 15th Branch at Rupa Mall, Eldoret

Text Book Centre (TBC), East and Central Africa’s leading Distributor of Educational, Cultural, and Technological Content and Products, has launched its 15th Branch at Rupa Mall, Eldoret.

Text Book Centre was founded as a partnership between two men – Mr. S V Shah and Mr. M J Rughani in 1964, one year after Kenya’s independence. Mr. S V Shah operated a bookshop in Fort Hall, or modern-day Muranga town, while Mr. M J Rughani operated a bookshop in Nyeri. This new venture was headquartered on Kijabe Street in 1965, where 60 years later the HQ of Text Book Centre still is. Text Book Centre has grown as a retail organisation now with 14 branches and an e-commerce platform that helps us transcend boundaries and borders.

Text Book Centre has also increased its offering to be much more than a bookshop, providing a wide range of leisure and skill development books, stationery, art & craft supplies and a wide range of tech items. In the 2024/25 financial year, the Education sector received 702.7 billion shillings (28% of the national budget), with the largest share (387.2 billion) going to the Teacher Service Commission (TSC). Currently, the sector is undergoing, major transformation with the new Grade 10 transitioning from Junior high in 2026.

Sachin Varma, CEO of Text Book Centre, said, “The opening of our Rupa Mall branch marks an exciting new chapter for Text Book Centre as we continue expanding across Kenya. Eldoret is a fast-growing hub of education and enterprise, and we’re proud to bring our trusted range of books, stationery, and creative tools closer to the people who power this region’s progress. Our goal remains the same — to make learning, creativity, and knowledge more accessible to every Kenyan, wherever they are.”

Sylvester Metto, County Attorney, Uasin Gishu County, said, “We are delighted to welcome Text Book Centre to Uasin Gishu County. This new branch at Rupa Mall represents more than retail expansion — it is an investment in our learners, teachers, and creative community. Access to quality educational and creative resources is central to our vision of building a knowledge-driven county. We look forward to partnering with TBC to promote literacy, support our schools, and nurture the next generation of innovators and readers from right here in Eldoret.”

The Rupa Mall branch offers a modern retail experience with a wide selection of books, stationery, art supplies, office essentials, tech accessories, and gifts. Designed to serve schools, universities, professionals, and families, the new branch reinforces TBC’s role as a trusted partner in Kenya’s learning and creative economy. With this expansion, TBC continues to build on its legacy of over 60 years as a homegrown brand inspiring generations of readers, thinkers, and innovators.

Traditionally, bookstores have been seen simply as places to purchase books. Over the years, retail has evolved to be more than just brick and mortar but a vibrant hub of ideas, dialogue and discovery. Today, TBC is a modern bookstore where knowledge is accessed, created, and shared. This is where students meet authors, where imagination meets reality, and where stories come alive beyond the pages.