Nairobi: Kenya has commemorated the World Post Day, with renewed commitment to transform the postal and courier services sector into a driver of the country’s digital economy agenda. Speaking during the celebration held at a Nairobi hotel, Principal Secretary State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Stephen Isaboke, stated that the government is keen on modernizing the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) to align with the digital economy and enhance service delivery across the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, Isaboke observed that the Postal Service remains one of the most adaptable public service institutions, connecting people, places, and possibilities across generations. He further noted that the sector’s resilience and ability to evolve is evident from its ongoing transition from traditional mail to digital and e-commerce driven services. ‘This year’s theme, ‘Post for People: Local Service, Global Reach,’ aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda by ensuring growth and opportunity for every Kenyan from the grassroots to the global stage,’ said the PS.
In addition, Isaboke reiterated that the government is working with the Postal Corporation to implement far-reaching reforms focusing on institutional autonomy, asset redevelopment, digital integration, service modernization, financial sustainability, and strategic partnerships. ‘Our goal is to transform Post Offices into engines for local economic growth. While the Corporation has faced challenges, this is also an opportunity for renewal. Transformation is no longer an option; it is essential,’ Isaboke emphasised.
The PS also revealed that the government is rolling out digital hubs in all 1,450 electoral wards and 25,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots countrywide to expand digital access. Government projects that this infrastructure will support e-commerce, digital logistics, and financial inclusion, particularly in rural areas. To enhance digital transactions, he disclosed that the Ministry is finalizing the National Addressing System (NAS) policy, which will assign every Kenyan a digital and physical address to streamline trade, emergency response, and service delivery.
‘We are replacing the old system of physical addresses based on landmarks with a modern digital addressing system that will make location identification simple and efficient,’ explained the PS. Isaboke also commended the Communications Authority (CA) for using the Universal Service Fund (USF) to modernize postal infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas, hence ensuring reliable and inclusive postal and courier services.
He further lauded the Postal Corporation’s new mobile money payment solution, PostaPay, describing it as a key innovation under the transformation agenda. ‘PostaPay gives users a digital wallet with higher transaction capacity and lower fees compared to existing mobile money platforms, making it an affordable and inclusive service, especially for the elderly and low-income earners,’ Isaboke expounded. Similarly, he noted that PostaPay not only promotes financial inclusion but also preserves the cultural and social role of the Post Office as a community hub for interaction and transactions.
Meanwhile, Isaboke pointed out that Kenya’s leadership in the global postal community was reaffirmed during the 28th Universal Postal Union (UPU) Congress in Dubai, where Kenya was re-elected to the Postal Operations Council for another four-year term. ‘Through innovation, partnership and vision, we can build a 21st-century post for Kenya that truly delivers for the people, for business, and for the nation,’ he asserted.
Communications Authority of Kenya, Director General (DG), David Mugonyi, said the global postal sector stands at a crossroads, amid digital disruption and competition from private courier and logistics providers. ‘The public postal network is under pressure from rapidly expanding third-party logistics firms. However, despite these challenges, the Post still has a strong future in a digital world,’ he stated.
Mugonyi further announced that the UPU adopted a new global strategy for 2026-2029, dubbed the Dubai Business Plan, which focuses on building one cohesive postal network, advancing innovation, and promoting development through regional cooperation. The CA, he added, will align Kenya’s regulatory framework with this strategy to support innovation and digital transformation in the postal and courier sector.
Mugonyi reported significant growth in Kenya’s postal and courier performance over the past year as domestic letters increased by 19.5 percent to 174,057, while international outbound and inbound letters grew by 16.2 and 4.9 percent, respectively. Domestic and international parcels surged by an impressive 979 percent, reaching 1.48 million in 2025 from 137,764 in 2024. The DG also revealed that employment in the sector rose from 6,387 to 6,736, with total revenues from private courier operators reaching Sh6.28 billion, signifying a one percent growth.
‘These indicators show that Kenya’s postal and courier sector is alive and ready to fight for its place in our economy,’ he remarked. Mugonyi also mentioned that the Authority is reviewing the postal market structure to align it with new technological and market trends and to eliminate barriers to entry and operation. ‘We invite all stakeholders to submit their views before October 15, 2025, so that together we can modernize this sector,’ said Mugonyi.
Postal Corporation of Kenya, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Tonui divulged that the Corporation is implementing a business turnaround strategy anchored on postal modernization, PostaPay revolution, and asset optimization. ‘The Cabinet Memorandum on the PCK turnaround strategy is awaiting approval. Once implemented, it will reposition PCK as a financially sustainable national hub for logistics, e-commerce, and digital financial services,’ declared Tonui.
Tonui, who is also the Postmaster General, reaffirmed the Corporation’s commitment to leveraging technology to offer e-commerce, e-payment, and e-government services saying, ‘Digital transformation is now a strategic priority for the Post to secure its relevance. We are not being left behind.’ PCK’s General Manager for Payment Services, Joan Toroitich, showcased PostaPay as a key innovation designed to enhance convenience and accessibility. She explained that the CBK-licensed platform supports mobile wallets, merchant payments, and agent transactions through more than 600 post offices and 100,000 upcoming agents.
She added that the platform will soon support diaspora remittances through integration with the Universal Postal Union system, enabling Kenyans abroad to send money directly to local post offices or mobile wallets.