The Communications Authority of Kenya has been keen on spurring the local e-Commerce industry. At the center of allowing E-commerce to thrive is the postal and courier sub-sector playing the important role of facilitating the delivery of the goods purchased by these platforms. The CA has also been looking at creating a National Addressing System which will uniquely identify residential and business premise allowing for delivery but not much has been said of it. The Postal Corporation of Kenya has in recent times struggled to compete effectively in the market as a result of technology.
In 2015, the CA finalized the reviewing of guidelines for adoption of E-commerce as well as Postal and Courier security management framework following consultations with the Public. The review consisted of reviewing of two documents sought to intertwine e-commerce and the courier sub-sector.The new guidelines in the review require postal or courier operators to implement mechanisms that provide for remote payment options incorporating a payment platform through a licensed financial payment services provider. They will also be required to come up with enhanced security for packages through faster parcel delivery and tracking of the courier delivery service by the company.
The CA is now requesting for proposals for consultancy services to undertake independent study of Postal Corporation of Kenya service delivery levels. In a tender notice on its website, CA says the review will allow for the harmonization of the operations of PCK to allow it compete effectively in this market. Postal services has in recent times signed deals with Jumia to allow for the delivery of goods by the online retailer across the country. It has also signed a deal with Barclays Bank of Kenya to allow for bank customers perform transactions in these branches.
