CA revokes licences of 17 courier firms

Communications Authority of Kenya. (Photo: Courtesy)

The Communications Authority of Kenya has revoked the licences of 17 courier firms for their failure to adhere to laid down conditions.

It is the latest effort by the telecommunications industry regulator to crack the whip on rogue courier operators after raiding and shutting down offices of another 13 firms that had been operating without licences.

In a public notice in the Kenya Gazette yesterday, CA said it had revoked the licences of the 17 operators “due to non-compliance of the applicable licence conditions”. The companies whose licences were revoked are a mix of Public Service Vehicle (PSV) cooperatives, general trade companies and firms operating purely as courier service providers, some of them with international affiliation.

The firms affected include Mololine Services, Coast Mail Company and Parcel Handlers Limited. Skynet Worldwide Express, a local operation of a US headquartered firm, also had its licence revoked. The Authority has in the recent past made an attempt to mainstream the courier industry that has seen an increase in the number of players following liberalisation in 2009.

According to industry statistics, there were 623 courier operators by end of 2016. There are, however, numerous other operators that have not been licensed and operate largely in a laissez faire fashion. In April, CA raided and closed down 13 courier offices, all of which were being operated by PSV Saccos. Some of the matatu cooperatives operate among the busiest couriers due to their daily and frequent travel especially to rural areas.

The Kenya Information and Communications Act prescribes a fine of Sh200,000 or a prison term of up to one year for offering courier services without requisite licensing.