Postal Corporation of Kenya Past Present and Future Outlook

The Postal Corporation of Kenya has a rich history that spans over a century. Established in 1892, it has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of the country.

Today, the corporation operates a network of post offices and postal services across the country, providing essential services to millions of Kenyans.

The corporation has undergone significant transformations, including a major restructuring exercise in 2013, aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs.

One of the key areas of focus for the corporation has been to expand its services to rural areas, where access to postal services is often limited.

The Early Years of Postal Services in Kenya were quite fascinating. A Portuguese governor was installed in Mombasa in 1592, marking the beginning of postal history in Kenya.

Communication with the outside world intensified from 1610 onwards, with messages carried by ship to Arabia then India and transmitted to Europe by overland route. This was a major breakthrough in connecting Kenya to the global network.

Early letters from European missionaries date back to 1848, sent from the hinterland to the Kenyan coast via African native runners. This shows how postal services were an essential tool for connecting communities across the country.

The Denhardt brothers, Gustav and Clemens Denhardt, organized a private postal system in 1889-1890 to facilitate communication for their trade operations and settlements. They issued distinctive postage stamps to support this system.

A formal postal system was introduced in British East Africa in May 1890, with post offices established in key locations like Kilindini-Mombasa and Lamu. This marked the beginning of organized, modern postal services in the region.

In 1895, Kenya was enjoined into the postal union of the imperial government, further expanding its postal services.

The Postal Corporation Of Kenya was established by an Act Of Parliament (PCK Act 1998). It operates as a commercial public enterprise, aiming to provide accessible, affordable, and reliable postal services across Kenya.

The Corporation's mandate includes provision of postal services to all parts of Kenya. This is in line with the 1948 United Nations Charter, which considers communication through the post office a basic human right.

Safaricom and the Postal Corporation of Kenya have partnered around the MPost service. This partnership aims to roll out digital Post Office Boxes to more than 5 million additional customers across the country.

Posta delivered 1.2 million letters in 2023, a significant drop from 11.8 million in 2019.

The decline in letter delivery has led to fierce competition from other operators, making it tough for Posta's branches to earn a profit.

The rise of bus companies and security businesses like G4S has further exacerbated the issue.

The use of social media, calls, SMS, and email has increased dramatically over the last 20 years, leading to a significant decrease in demand for Posta's mail delivery services.

Since the entrance of telecommunication companies like Safaricom to the market, Posta's fortunes have continued to dwindle.