NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 8 – Private courier firms are gaining market share as traditional postal services continue to decline amid Kenya’s fast-growing digital economy.
Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya shows domestic courier parcel volumes rose 14.1 percent to 3.9 million, driven by e-commerce growth, food delivery platforms, and increased reliance on last-mile delivery.
In contrast, postal services recorded declines across key segments, with international incoming parcels dropping 17.7 percent and outgoing parcels falling 16.8 percent.
The regulator noted that consumers and businesses are increasingly shifting to faster, trackable, and more reliable courier services suited to a digital-first economy.
“Postal traffic for letters and parcels declined during the period under review, while courier volumes recorded strong growth, particularly in domestic deliveries,” the report stated.
The trend reflects the rapid expansion of online retail, mobile commerce, and gig economy platforms, which are reshaping logistics and supply chains.
Analysts say the shift underscores the need to modernise postal services or redefine their role, even as it creates opportunities in logistics, warehousing, and last-mile delivery for private sector players.
