Public service vehicles and e-commerce firms operating courier services without a licence from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) have been warned of severe consequences should they continue with their illegal operations.
David Mugonyi, the Director General of the CA, has sent out a notice reminding everyone that running courier services without the proper licence from the Authority is against the law and can lead to legal consequences.
“The Authority has noticed that several unauthorised Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Saccos and e-commerce platforms are providing courier services without the necessary licence from the Authority.”
“Any person that is found to be in violation of the provisions outlined in Section 49 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, is guilty of an offence and may face penalties or fines amounting to Sh300,000 or imprisonment for a maximum of one year or both upon being convicted,” Mr Mugonyi said.
Mr Mugonyi also urged the public to exclusively use postal and courier services offered by licensed operators to ensure the security of their belongings. He noted that adhering to this approach would assist in minimising additional risks associated with unauthorised service providers.
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He further directed the public to verify the authenticity of courier service providers by requesting to view a valid compliance certificate issued by the Authority.
“Consumers can enjoy a secure and reliable service experience by choosing to support authorised operators, which in turn provides access to designated complaints resolution and compensation mechanisms,” he said.
Earlier this month, CA issued a seven-day operating notice to six postal courier companies via a gazette notice, indicating that their licences would be revoked if the deadline elapsed.
As of June 2021, there were 289 licensed courier operators, marking an increase from 263 in June 2019. Furthermore, the number of private courier outlets grew from 788 in the Financial Year 2019-2020 to 901 in 2020-2021.
CA’s website offers a comprehensive list of licensed courier providers, along with details on the courier market structure and licence administration framework.
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