This archive report was first published on 30 November 2019.
On November 30, 2019, the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) and Safaricom launched a digital postal service, MPost, aimed at growing e-commerce business in Kenya.
The new service, which targets 5 million new users, allows customers to rent physical post office boxes using their mobile phone numbers at a rate of 300 shillings monthly.
E-commerce customers who opt to have their parcels delivered to their doors will have to pay extra.
Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said the government is committed to ensuring that international companies' investments in Kenya are highly protected.
Speaking during the launch of MPost, Mucheru emphasized that the digital revolution in Kenya will be led by young people with great ideas and innovations like MPost, which will have simple and local solutions to local problems.
He added that the government has enacted laws to support the growth of the digital economy, including a law on data protection, a law on access to information, and a law on cyber security.
ICT Principal Secretary Jerome Ochieng noted that Kenyans have expressed a desire for the government to digitize all its services, processes, payment systems, and record keeping to ensure they are secured from criminal tampering.
He also highlighted the need for the complete digitization of land ownership and the provision of data access to citizens.
Safaricom Chief Financial Services Officer Sitoyo Lopokoiyit praised the government for its progressive approach to facilitating innovations in the country.
He cited the Central Bank of Kenya's (CBK) E-citizen, Huduma centres, and M-akiba as examples of the government's commitment to digitization.
The Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) board Chairman Nick Salat emphasized that the MPost service will address the challenge of accessing postal services for the youth, who make up 70 percent of the Kenyan population.
He added that the service will enable Kenyans to access postal services at an affordable rate of 300 shillings monthly.
The service can be accessed by dialing 23419#.
