9
POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES
9.1
Postal/Courier Market
The Government recognizes that all citizens have a right to access basic postal services and will ensure
that the country has a vibrant and efficient postal sector across the physical, electronic and financial
platforms in order to increase the sector’s contribution to the country’s economy. This will be achieved
by, ensuring that postal operators provide affordable, equitable and efficient universal service, among
other measures.
An effective postal and courier system is key to the development of e-commerce and other sectors of
the ICT economy.
9.1.1 Policy Objectives
This policy aims to achieve the following objectives:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
9.1.2
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
9.2
Development and provision of high quality services and responsiveness to customer needs;
Increased access to quality and affordable universal postal services;
Promotion of private sector participation in the postal sector;
Promotion of e-commerce activities in the country
Enhancement of postal security;
Promotion of R&D in the postal sector; and
Increased cooperation with sub-regional, regional and global postal service organizations.
Strategies
Rollout of more postal service points;
Improvement of collection and distribution of mail and parcels;
Restructuring of Postal Corporation of Kenya for greater commercial viability;
Promoting competition in all non-exclusive postal market segments;
Enhancing universal access to postal services;
Review of the exclusive market segments, from time to time to allow for more competition;
Promoting the use of the postal network in the delivery of electronic services; and
Supporting the provision of financial services through the postal system.
Liberalisation of Postal Services
The Government has liberalised the competitive segments of the postal/courier sub-sectors such as
fast mail and courier services where the private sector has continued to play an important role. Further
liberalization will be undertaken in line with prevailing economic and market conditions. The policy
also aims at creating an environment that attracts increased investments in the sector and allows the
development of postal infrastructure and services that support national development goals.
The postal market is divided into the exclusive and non-exclusive market segments. The main player
in the exclusive segments is the Postal Corporation of Kenya which provides among others the
following services on an exclusive basis:
a) Delivery of letters, postcards, printed paper and small packets with weights up to a maximum
of 350grams. This limit will be reviewed in line with prevailing economic and market
conditions and any variations published in the Kenya Gazette;
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