Longhorn Publishers

What Longhorn Publishers does

Longhorn Publishers PLC is a Nairobi-headquartered, publicly listed educational publishing company that has operated for over 50 years in East, Central, and Southern Africa, publishing more than 1,000 titles spanning English and Kiswahili readers, CBC Grade 1-3 course books, KCSE and KCPE revision series, atlases, and a secondary encyclopaedia priced at KES 800 ex-VAT. Its core product surface is print textbooks aligned to national curricula, sold through major domestic bookstores, direct institutional sales to governments and schools, and the company's own e-commerce storefront My Bidhaa (mybidhaa.com), with international shipping reaching individual consumers.

Since 2024 the company has executed a deliberate digital pivot, launching the LoHo Digital Learning Platform in partnership with Safaricom, which assembles tablets pre-loaded with curriculum content distributed via one-year installment plans, and standing up Longhorn Digital Ventures Studio Kenya Limited as a wholly-owned digital venture subsidiary. Four operating units now sit under the PLC: book publishing, LoHo Learning (eLearning), Longhorn Publishing Services (self-publishing for aspiring authors with manuscript-to-distribution fees), and Longhorn Language Services (ISO 9001:2015-certified translation, interpretation, transcription, and subtitling at $0.10-$0.12 per word and $350-$500 per interpreter). Regional offices operate in Uganda, Tanzania, DRC (Congo SARL), Cameroon, and Rwanda, with claimed presence in 9 African countries including Zambia, Malawi, and Ghana. Distribution runs through enterprise field sales to ministries and institutions, channel partners (major bookstores), direct consumer e-commerce, and the Safaricom telecom channel; bulk discounts are available on institutional book orders.

Name

Longhorn Publishers

Legal name

Longhorn Publishers PLC

Website

https://longhornpublishers.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Longhorn Publishers PLC is a publicly listed East African educational publisher producing 1,000+ print and digital titles across 9 countries, serving governments, schools, professional bodies, and individual learners with curriculum-aligned books, the LoHo digital learning platform, self-publishing, and ISO-certified language services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Book Publishers (513130), Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Software Publishers (5132), Books Printing (323117)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Textbook Publishing (Core Curriculum) (MPAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Core Subject Textbooks (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies) (EDAGAAAA), Children’s Educational & Curriculum Publishing (MPAJAFAF), E-book Subscription & Bundling Services (MPAJAMAB), Language Proficiency & Admissions Testing Prep (TOEFL/IELTS/DELE/HSK, etc.) (EDAGADAE)

Keywords

• Educational publishing
• Curriculum-aligned textbooks
• Digital learning platforms
• Self-publishing services
• Language translation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Sale of educational textbooks, revision guides, storybooks, and reference materials for various education levels
2. Publishing Services: Self-publishing services for authors including manuscript evaluation, editing, design, proofreading, printing, and distribution with associated fees
3. Language Services: Translation, interpretation, transcription, subtitling, and desktop publishing services
4. E-commerce (My Bidhaa): Online retail platform for books and stationery sales

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Longhorn Publishers PLC publishes and distributes curriculum-aligned educational textbooks, revision guides, language readers and reference materials for primary and secondary schools across East, Central and South Africa. The company also operates the LoHo digital learning platform and e-books in partnership with Safaricom, runs the My Bidhaa e-commerce bookstore for books and stationery, and offers self-publishing services to authors plus ISO-certified translation and interpretation services to corporate and government clients.

Product overview

Longhorn Publishers is a diversified publishing house offering a portfolio of print and digital educational products and services. The core product line consists of physical books including Longhorn English and Kiswahili Readers, CBC Grade 1-3 Course Books aligned to the Competency-Based Curriculum, KCSE Encyclopaedias, Mastering KCPE revision series, and the Comprehensive Primary School Atlas. Supporting the book business are digital platforms: My Bidhaa (e-commerce), LOHO Learning/eBooks (digital learning), and the LoHo Digital Learning Platform (tablet-based learning with Safaricom). Service offerings include Publishing Services for self-publishing authors and Language Services for translation/interpretation. The company also operates Longhorn Digital Ventures Studio Kenya Limited as a digital venture subsidiary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LoHo Learning: A cutting-edge eLearning platform with interactive educational content and comprehensive learning management systems.
• LoHo E Books
• My Bidhaa
• Longhorn Publishing Services
• Longhorn Language Services

Products and services

• LoHo Digital Learning Platform Digital learning platform developed in collaboration with Safaricom, offering custom learning tablets pre-loaded with educational content aligned to the Kenyan Competency-Based Curriculum, with filtered internet connectivity and installment payment options for families.
• LoHo Learning (eLearning Platform) Cutting-edge eLearning platform with interactive educational content and comprehensive learning management systems, operated through the LoHo Learning subsidiary.
• LoHo E-Books Digital study materials created by professionals (scientists, editors, teachers) available through an e-book platform.
• My Bidhaa E-commerce platform dedicated to making the process of buying books and stationery convenient and stress-free for consumers.
• Publishing Services Professional self-publishing services extending Longhorn's editorial and publishing expertise to aspiring authors, from manuscript evaluation, editing, design, proofreading and printing through distribution.
• Language Services High-quality translation, interpretation, transcription, subtitling and desktop publishing services offered to companies and individuals across Africa and beyond.
• Longhorn English Readers Educational reading materials for English language learning at various levels.
• Longhorn Kiswahili Readers Educational reading materials for Kiswahili language learning at various levels.
• CBC Grade 1-3 Course Books Course books comprehensively covering the Competency-Based Curriculum for Primary schools, providing practical activities for critical thinking and creativity.
• Longhorn Secondary Encyclopaedia (KCSE) Comprehensive secondary revision series with sample predictor questions, model test papers, and answers for self-assessment, covering Forms 1-4 in Languages, Mathematics & Science, Humanities, and Applied/Technical Subjects.
• Mastering KCPE Series Comprehensive revision books developed in line with the primary level curriculum, containing actual KCPE questions (1995-2019) for thorough examination preparation.
• Comprehensive Primary School Atlas 100-page atlas featuring county information, economic activities, physical features, sub-counties, and constituencies, plus updated information on infrastructure, transport, and regional developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ years of publishing experience
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Safaricom PLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2024Strategic partnership to launch the LoHo digital learning platform. Safaricom assembles custom learning tablets pre-loaded with LoHo Learning content, providing internet connectivity filtered for educational materials. Tablets available through one-year installment plans for families, making affordable access to digital education.
• LoHo Learning (Subsidiary)coreOthersNewly established subsidiary (Longhorn Digital Ventures Studio Kenya Limited) responsible for creating educational content for the LoHo digital learning platform.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oxford University Press (East Africa): Oxford University Press operates a Nairobi-based division publishing K-12 and tertiary textbooks across East Africa with strong curriculum alignment and brand recognition — directly competing with Longhorn's CBC, KCSE, and general reference titles in the same markets.
• East African Educational Publishers (EAEP): Long-established Nairobi-based educational publisher with primary, secondary, and university titles plus children's literature — same product categories, similar customer base, overlapping geographies in East Africa.
• Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB): State-owned Kenyan publisher producing curriculum-aligned K-12 textbooks in English, Kiswahili, and sciences; competes head-to-head with Longhorn for government-approved CBC and secondary school titles.
• Jomo Kenyatta Foundation: Kenyan educational publisher producing primary and secondary textbooks in partnership with the Ministry of Education; directly competes with Longhorn for government-approved curriculum titles across Kenyan schools.
• Moran (E.A.) Publishers: Kenyan educational publisher focused on CBC-aligned primary and secondary course books and revision guides; competes directly with Longhorn's textbook catalogue in the Kenyan school segment.

Emerging players

• Visaide (formerly eKitabu Africa): East African digital content and curriculum distribution platform specializing in textbook digitization and accessible learning — adjacent competitor to Longhorn's LoHo e-books and digital learning platform.
• uLesson: Pan-African EdTech platform offering curriculum-aligned video lessons, practice tests, and offline access for primary and secondary learners — competes with Longhorn's LoHo digital learning platform across the same African student demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson plc: Global education publishing and services company with primary/secondary textbooks, assessment, and digital learning platforms — competes with Longhorn at the upper end of the East African market and on international exam prep.
• Macmillan Education: International education publisher with K-12 and tertiary offerings across Africa, including curriculum-aligned courses and digital platforms — overlaps with Longhorn's textbook and EdTech portfolios.

Regional players

• Storymoja Afrika: Kenya-based children's and educational publisher producing readers, storybooks, and curriculum-supporting materials — competes with Longhorn's Longhorn English/Kiswahili Readers and CBC primary product lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lhornpublisher
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@longhornpublishersplc2376
• Facebookfacebook.com/91080378183
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/longhorn-publishers
• Instagraminstagram.com/longhornpublishers
• TikToktiktok.com/@longhornke

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Longhorn Publishers