Information Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has said that the government is transforming the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) to adopt a vibrant business model.
This, Mr Mucheru said, is to enable the Corporation offer globally competitive services and thrive in the current digital economy.
Mr Mucheru said this initiative would be a game changer to the communication sector when it fully taps into technological opportunities to remain relevant globally.

The CS stated said that, the government had to rethink the role of the postal infrastructure following the impact of technology on postal traffic towards the delivery of goods and ecommerce.

He acknowledges that while the new communications have disrupted the traditional role of the post, new opportunities for it to thrive have been created. The CS citied provision of financial and payment services  to sections of the populations  that have been side-lined from the formal  financial ecosystem.
“The 88 percent mobile penetration has already inspired PCK to launch the M-Post service which transforms mobile phone accounts into virtual postal accounts. This service can further revolutionise e-commerce and strengthen the postal network. ”Mucheru said.

The Cabinet Secretary further cited Huduma Centres concept, a one-stop shop that he said has leveraged on the existing postal infrastructure to take public services closer to the citizens.

Mucheru said that 60 percent of the rural populations still use postal services and the introduction of e-commerce, M-postal services, and other postal digital platforms will help revolutionize postal service in Kenya and Africa as a whole.

He said the postal union plays an important role in in the socio economic development of Kenya and Africa in general as it facilitates human interaction, trade and commerce but called for need reform to enable it remain relevant in the global stage. “Postal union must modernise and align its services and infrastructure accordingly,” he said.

Mucheru was speaking during the 36th Ordinary Session of Administrative Council of the Pan African Postal Union held in Nairobi.

by Ismael Kevin /Isabel Wairimu – 8th  May 2017