The Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) is spending KES 60 million to create awareness on postal and courier services. CCK says the postal and courier industry has over 100 licensed operators and is worth KES 15 billion. However, according to Patricia Muchiri, Assistant Director Consumer Affairs at CCK, most consumers are not aware of their rights and responsibilities. This campaign will see consumers being educated on their rights and responsibilities.

CCK issues a 25 year license to Posta and a 15 year license to other courier operators. Martin Ngesa - Manager Postal licensing and enforcement at CCK says that Posta Kenya is the sole licensee for private mailboxes, postage stamps and letters weighing up to 350 grams. All couriers are mandated to charge at least 5 times Posta when handling letters and parcels weighing up to 350 grams. Firms flouting the rule and any other licensee regulations are liable for a one year jail term, a KES 300,000 fine or both. CCK has already taken 90 operators to court.
CCK is urging the public to make sure that they only transact business with licensed courier operators who are published on the CCK website. Muchiri also warns the public against postage of dangerous and prohibited items, or threats and scandalous mails which attracts a KES 300,000 fine, a 3 year jail term or both. Members of the public sending mail and parcels also bear the responsibility to disclose what they are sending in addition to filing complaints with both the operators and CCK on unsatisfactory service including delayed postage, lost and tampered items. Muchiri says CCK has only received 4 complaints on all licensees in the last year.
While mail services have been on the decline, parcel services have seen growth, pegged on increased uptake of online shopping. The number of post offices under posta now stands at 697 down from 721 in 2007 while sub offices stand at 196 down from 223 in 2007. Mailboxes under use increased from 321,217 in 2007 to 360,545 while total mailboxes are at 429, 900 up from 411,716.
The campaign comes just a few weeks after a CCK commissioned report identified the postal sector as the only one experiencing decline in Kenya's telecommunication sector. [Read: Study identifies Kenya ICT gaps http://www.cio.co.ke/Main-Stories/study-identifies-kenyas-ict-access-gaps.html]