All applications for postal/courier licenses should be addressed to the Commission as provided for by Section 77 of the Kenya Communications Act, No. 2,1998 and Kenya Information Communications Act No. 1, 2009.  Upon receipt of the application, the following process ensues:

Upon receipt of the application fee, the Commission checks whether the eligible applicant has provided the following:

• Payment of the prescribed non-refundable application fee (currently Kshs. 10,000)
• certified copy of proof of the list of directors from the registrar of companies(FORM CR12)
• certified copies of identification documents of company directors
• certified copy of proof of registration or incorporation in Kenya
• certified copy of proof of PIN card
• Certified copy of VAT Certificate of Compliance
• letter of application with company seal laying out the business plan

(Note: documents must be certified by a Commissioner of Oaths)

Once it is established that the applicant has met these conditions, the Commission:

• Publishes the applicant’s name in the Kenya Gazette, and awaits the expiry of 30 days within which representations on the application from interested parties could be raised
• Determines appropriate categorization of the applicant following successful gazette notification
• Advises the applicant of the category and license fee payable
• Issues the appropriate license and terms of operation upon payment of requisite annual fees

Any person who carries on business as a postal/courier without being registered by the  Communications Commission of Kenya commits an offence of operating postal services without a valid license contrary to Section 67 of the Kenya Communications Act (KCA) No.2 of 1998 and Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2008. On conviction, offenders are liable to a jail term not exceeding (1) one year or a fine not exceeding ksh.200, 000 or both. Up-to date more than 45 illegal courier operators have been arraigned and convicted in various courts countrywide.

One of the reasons for licensing and regulating Postal/Courier services is to ensure provision of the said services at highest quality standards. Consequently using the services of licensed operators for conveyance and delivery of letters, packets, documents, packages, parcels and other postal articles guarantees customers of secure, quality and reliable services and recourse to recognized existing consumer complaint mechanisms already established by all licensed operators. Further, customers also benefit from consumer protection mechanism established by the Commission pursuant to the Kenya Communications Act, 1998. Members of the public are advised to only deal with duly licensed operators. 

CCK has so far licensed about 100 service providers in various categories offering a wide range of postal and courier services. They include:
Public Postal Operator: Charged with the responsibility of ensuring provision of universal postal services as an obligation (USO) and has and has the widest International and domestic coverage.
International Operators: Operates   internationally with both worldwide and domestic networks.
International In-bound Only: One-way operators; receiving items from overseas for local delivery.
 Regional Operators: M ajor operators within Kenya and also operate with East African network
Intra-country Operators: Operators within Kenya
Intra-city Operators: Operates only within a city/town boundary
Document Exchange: Operates a document exchange point for mail of a particular clientele

Annual operating License fees   
Public Postal Licensee
KSh. 3,750,000 
International In-bound operators
Ksh.75, 000 or 0.5% of turnover of audited accounts whichever is less
International operators
Ksh 450,000 or 0.5% of turnover of audited accounts whichever is less
Regional Operators
Ksh.93, 750 or 0.5% of turnover of audited accounts whichever is less
Intra country Operators
Ksh.60, 000 or 0.5% of turnover of audited accounts whichever is less
Intra city Operators
Ksh. 37,500 or 0.5% of turnover of audited accounts whichever is less
Document Exchange operators

Ksh. 22,500 or 0.5% of turnover of audited accounts whichever is less
This categorization and accompanying license fees are reviewed from time to time.

The Commission has licensed about 140 postal and courier operators. These include the Public Postal Licensee (PCK) and   other postal/courier operators.

Universal Postal Services refer to the consistent supply of basic postal services at affordable prices at all points in the country.

The Commission is currently developing appropriate programs and schemes geared towards realization of universal service obligation. It defines the USO (universal Service Obligation) services and ensures that PCK implements the same in the most appropriate manner

Licensed postal/courier operator’s growth trend is as shown in the table below:

The public postal licensee-Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) - has under the existing regulatory framework been granted certain exclusive rights/concessions in provision of certain basic postal services consistent with their roll out obligation to provide universal basic postal services throughout the country. The said services include delivery of letters weighing up-to 350 grams, operations of private letterboxes and printing/issuance of postage stamps. In respect of the concession, all other operators handling letters weighing up to 350 grams are required by law to charge at least five (5) times what PCK CHARGES. As an example considering that PCK charges Ksh.25/= for posting a basic letter, any other courier operator providing this particular services must charge at least Ksh.125/= under the said concession otherwise she/he will be contravening Section 48 1(l) of KCA on the Public Postal Licensee (Posta)’s exclusive services and therefore risks being penalized as indicated above.

These are conditions attached to postal licenses that the licensee has to meet for his license to remain in force or to be renewed. Failure to meet the conditions may lead to cancellation of the license. The license conditions for postal/courier operators are:

• Payment of license fees as prescribed by the Commission
• Requirement for the Public Postal Licensee to meet minimum quality of service standards as set by the Commission in regard to reserved services (i.e. operation of private letterboxes, printing & issuance of postage stamps and delivery of letters up to 350 grams)
• Operating from a permanent address registered with the Commission
• Provision of such information and returns as the Commission may request for the purpose of exercising its functions as assigned under the Act. 
• Obligation to charge the right tariffs for reserved services
• Obligation to display tariffs and complaint procedures
• Notification to the Commission of any postal articles suspected to have been sent in contravention of the Act e.g. illicit drugs, etc.

The Commission issues two types of postal licenses. These are:

• The Public Postal License issued to the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK), which is valid for 25 years from date of issue (subject to payment of annual operating license fee).
• Postal/courier licenses issued to other postal operators are valid for 15 years from date of issue (subject to payment of annual operating license fee).

The Commission has developed minimum standards of service performance expected from PCK in respect of reserved services. These will be reviewed from time to time as provided for under article 3 and 12 of the license conditions issued to PCK.

Postal Service Standards
Type of Network Connection
USO Obligation
Letters (local)
 Posted and for delivery within the same urban area*
-Posted before noon (1200 hrs)
J (same day delivery)
-Posted after noon (1200 hrs)
J+1
Posted in urban areas for delivery within other urban areas
J+1
Posted in urban areas for delivery in rural areas**
J+2
Posted in rural areas for delivery in other rural areas
J+4
Posted for delivery in special (hardship) areas***
J+6
Letters (International)
Same as local upon clearance at Airport
Private box/bag services
 Provision of Letter Boxes/Bags on application
-Urban Areas
-Rural Areas
1 month
2 weeks
4. Replacement of private box/bag locks
consequent upon loss of keys
1 day
NOTE
J Refers to day of posting
* Refers to all major towns including district headquarters.
** Refers to all other centers except major towns and special (hardship) areas.
*** Refers to areas with difficult climatic, infrastructural and security conditions.

 

Post does not necessarily refer to the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) but means any system for the handling, collection, dispatch, acceptance, conveyance and delivery of postal articles operated by any licensee.

It means anything transmissible by post, including but not limited to letters, parcels, etc. The Act however vests powers of determining what constitutes a postal article in the Commission.

Courier services refer to any specialized service for the collection, dispatch, conveyance, handling and delivery of postal articles.