The government is taking deliberate steps to revitalise its postal sector to boost public service delivery.
Information, Communications and the Digital Economy CS William Kabogo has said the re-orientation of Post to the digital age is centred on the government’s conviction of the central role of the postal sector in connecting communities.
In a speech read on his behalf by Principal Secretary, State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Stephen Isaboke, during the official opening of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Africa Postal Leaders Forum on Tuesday in Nairobi, the CS said the government has developed the National Addressing System and the supporting policy and legal instruments to re-orient the Post for last-mile delivery and e-commerce.
“As I speak, the draft National Addressing System Standards, Policy, and Bill are awaiting consideration in Parliament.”
He said, adding that once enacted, these instruments would usher in a golden era for the Post in Kenya, particularly in e-commerce and last-mile delivery.
He said in addition to being logistics hubs, these centres have revolutionised public service delivery by offering citizens access to government services, making post offices one-stop centres for rural communities.
“Today, our post offices are not just in the business of delivering mail. They are, in the literal sense, ‘Huduma’ (service) centres,” said Kabogo.
Kabogo added that they are offering access to government services for rural communities, alongside their traditional logistics functions.
“As part of our digital transformation agenda, the government, through the Universal Service Fund, is rolling out digital hubs in postal outlets in remote and unserved areas to transform post offices into centres of opportunity, innovation and inclusion,” he said.
Additionally, the CS said that the government is implementing the Kenya National e-Commerce Strategy to enable the country to bolster its position as a digital frontrunner in Africa.
Kabogo said the strategy would go a long way in facilitating an inclusive and widespread utilisation of trusted and secure e-commerce services in the country.
“The strategy’s focus areas are enhancement of digital trade infrastructure, promoting trust and consumer protection in online trade, and supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises,” he said.
Further, to ensure that sector laws facilitate the continued growth of the Post, the PS remarked that the ICT Ministry is spearheading the review of postal and ICT sector laws to align with technological and market trends.
To this end, he divulged that the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill 2025 has been submitted to Parliament for consideration.
“Legal reform will facilitate the ICT sector regulator – the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) – to bring new and emerging services in the postal and e-commerce sub-market under its regulatory ambit,” he added.
UPU research shows that well-optimised postal services could contribute close to 7 per percent to a country’s GDP, a target that is within reach of all postal administrations within the African region.
A 2023 report indicated that the African postal industry processed over 1.2 billion items, a testament to the endurance and relevance of the sector, driven by accelerated digital transformation across the continent.
The CS lauded the support of the International Bureau (IB) of the UPU for its continued support of Kenya’s efforts to modernise the post services, including technical and financial assistance to the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK).
“Most recently, the IB of the UPU has agreed to support the Postal Corporation of Kenya to enhance its capacity in the provision of Post4Health services to the tune of 150,000 Swiss Francs (approx. Sh23.6 million),” he said.
The CS called on the African region to harmonise its ICT policies to strengthen cross-border postal networks, share best practices, forge partnerships with tech firms, and commit to sustainability by ensuring our postal systems are green and resilient.
The 2nd Edition of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Africa Postal Leaders Forum under the theme “Exploring New Regulatory Models for Cultivating Competitive Markets” will see regulators, policy makers and postal leaders uniting to rethink regulations for a digital age and deliberating on the future of postal services in Africa.
The two-day forum hosted by the Communications Authority of Kenya from 22 to 23 April represents a critical step towards revitalising and transforming postal services in Africa into dynamic engines for inclusive socioeconomic development.
