There are a number of reasons why ereaders may be preferred over printed books in these countries, particularly if they are a part of a government sponsored program. Some lessons from the OLPC project:

The resale or theft of books is much more common in these countries. An electronic device which is digitally tied to a student reduces the probability of that happening.

It is far easier for governments to create or distribute books. Printed books require considerable resources to create and distribute. This is a huge problem in remote areas, where heavy books may have to be flown in.

Printed books are also all-or-nothing propositions, so books are difficult to distribute as they are being developed. This is a big problem in many nations that need to develop educational materials in their own language.

Access to outside resources. In many communities, the only books available have been selected by government/committee, were the luck of the draw through donations, or were selected by a handful of individuals who could afford it.

Over all, I like the sounds of this initiative more than the OLPC project. The XO-1 was noble in intention ("constructionist" learning), but also created problems with respect to teacher training. Heck, even teachers in developed nations who grew up around computers rarely know how to use them effectively in the classroom. The Kindle, being more like a real book, would be far easier for those teachers and students to understand.