Kenya Marks World Post Day with Renewed Push to Modernise Postal Services in the Digital Era

By Njeri Irungu.

Nairobi, October 9, 2025 — Kenya joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Post Day 2025, with calls for bold reforms and renewed commitment to revitalise the postal and courier sector in line with the country’s digital transformation agenda.

The event, held at a Nairobi hotel, brought together key players from government, industry, and the media under the theme “Post for People: Local Service. Global Reach.”

Speaking at the event, Mr. David Mugonyi, EBS, Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), noted that while the global postal network faces increasing pressure from digital disruption and private competition, the sector still has an essential role to play in connecting people and driving inclusive economic growth.

 “There are those who question if the post has a future in a digital world. My emphatic reply is yes, it does,” said Mr. Mugonyi. “The post has a place in our present and future, not just as a carrier of letters, but as a vital link in e-commerce, logistics, and financial inclusion.”

He cited the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) new 2026–2029 strategy, adopted at the recently concluded UPU Congress in Dubai, which focuses on strengthening the global postal network, advancing digital innovation, and promoting development through regional cooperation.

Mr. Mugonyi reaffirmed CA’s commitment to aligning Kenya’s regulatory framework with this global strategy, adding that the Authority is currently reviewing the postal and courier market structure to remove entry barriers and update licensing frameworks in line with new technological and market realities.

He encouraged stakeholders to submit their views before October 15, 2025, as part of the ongoing regulatory review process aimed at modernising the sector.

Despite challenges, the CA boss highlighted encouraging trends in Kenya’s postal industry. Domestic letter volumes grew by 19.5% in the past year, while international outbound and inbound letters increased by 16.2% and 4.9%, respectively.

Parcels — driven largely by e-commerce — saw a phenomenal 979% surge to 1.48 million items, underscoring the growing importance of online trade. The sector also recorded growth in employment and revenues, with national courier income rising by 33.3% in 2024.

 “Kenya’s postal and courier sector has made remarkable progress in the past year — clear evidence that it is alive and ready to fight for its place in our economy,” Mugonyi said.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Hon. William Kabogo, Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Mr. Stephen Isaboke, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalising Posta Kenya through wide-ranging reforms.

 “Transformation is no longer optional — it is essential for relevance and sustainability,” he said, outlining reforms focused on institutional autonomy, asset redevelopment, digital integration, logistics excellence, staff reskilling, and financial sustainability.

Mr. Isaboke announced that the National Addressing System (NAS), which will assign every Kenyan a unique physical and digital address, is nearing completion. The NAS policy, legislation, and standards are expected to go before Parliament soon.

The Ministry has also prepared a Cabinet Memo on the Transformation of the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK), setting out measures to make it a profitable and digitally-driven institution aligned with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

A key pillar of the reform agenda is PostaPay, a new financial inclusion solution that leverages Posta’s nationwide network to offer affordable financial services, particularly to small traders and rural communities.

Kenya’s global standing in the postal sector also received a boost, with the country re-elected to the Universal Postal Union’s Postal Operations Council for another four-year term — a testament to its leadership in postal and logistics innovation.

 “Postal offices remain among the most accessible public service points in Kenya,” Mr. Isaboke noted. “Our goal is to transform them into engines of local economic growth and vital enablers of the digital economy.”

He further commended the Communications Authority for using the Universal Service Fund (USF) to modernise postal infrastructure in underserved areas, ensuring equitable access to communication and delivery services across the country.

As the celebrations came to a close, speakers called for collective action — from policymakers to private operators — to reimagine Kenya’s postal ecosystem in the digital era.

“Let us mark this World Post Day with optimism and a renewed sense of purpose,” Mugonyi urged. “Together, we can modernise this sector and help it continue creating value in a digital Kenya.”