The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has issued a stern warning to matatus reportedly engaged in delivering packages without the necessary government license.
CA Director General David Mugonyi, in a statement released on Tuesday, highlighted the authority’s role in facilitating domestic and cross-border e-commerce activities by licensing both national and international courier providers.
Mr. Mugonyi warned of fines and potential jail terms for courier service providers that fail to obtain the required approvals from the State agency as per the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998.
“It has come to the attention of the Authority that a number of unauthorised Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Saccos and e-commerce players are offering courier services without obtaining the requisite license from the Authority,” he stated.
According to Section 49 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, contravening these provisions is an offence punishable upon conviction. Penalties may include a fine not exceeding Ksh.300,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.
Mr. Mugonyi urged Kenyans to only utilize courier operators that are appropriately licensed and to demand relevant compliance certifications when in doubt. Doing so ensures the security of packages and proper compensation in case of loss or damage.
He further mentioned that a register of all licensed courier providers, along with their market structure and administration framework, is available on the authority’s website.
