OLX partners with G4S to deliver farm produce across Kenya

KAKAMEGA: Farmers in Kenya will in two months be able to sell their produce anywhere in the country following an agreement between OLX and G4S.

Through the partnership, OLX will be able to collect farmers’ online purchases from G4S centres across the country and sell them to their customers wherever they are.

The partnership between OLX and G4S will see OLX sellers safely deliver their items to G4S centres, enabling buyers to have easy access to the goods at the nearest G4S centres.

Speaking during Vijana Reloaded graduation ceremony in Kakamega, OLX country manager Peter Ndiang'ui said the partnership was timely and will now enable farmers access markets easily.

"This partnership will enable us to enhance the safety of our users and to also lessen the burden of transport on them even as more traders, micro-businesses and consumers troop to our platform every day to sell both New and Unused items," said Ndiang'ui.

The delivery service will see sellers on the OLX platform deliver shipment to the nearest G4S collection centre for dispatch to the buyer within the country.

"This partnership will see our users do delivery at subsidised rates and also bring the goods closer to their doorstep for convenience. For example, if you advertise fish in Nyanza and a customer sees the advert in Machakos, G4S will deliver it immediately to the buyer," Ndiang'ui said.

G4S Secure Logistics Director, Geoffrey Mwove also lauded the partnership noting that this will allow for fast movement of consumer products.

"This partnership goes a long way to deliver our commitment to provide convenient and secure service to our customers. The seller will be asked to set a security question that is to be answered by the buyer upon collection of the package with necessary identification documents including original identity card or passport", said Mwove.

Ndiang'ui revealed that the programme targets farmers in Kiambu, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Kisii, Homa Bay, Siaya and Bungoma counties.

"According to World Bank report released recently, Nairobi County only controls 12 per cent of Kenya's gross domestic product (GDP) while Kiambu has the highest income per capita with Nyeri leading with the highest foreign exchange base owing to tea production," he said.

Ndiang'ui regretted that there is a mismatch between production and consumption and that is why OLX is focusing on agribusiness in order to link up dairy and other farmers with potential buyers.

"Lagos and Accra buy their dairy products from Europe because of advertising their products and this is a market in Africa that Kenyan farmers can easily tap into," he said.

OLX is available in more than 100 countries worldwide and 50 languages. This translates to millions of people across the globe using OLX to buy and sell goods, find a job or rent a house every day.