Information on the contents of parcels sent through courier services will soon be made available to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the police under new rules.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

According to new regulations stipulated by the CA and scheduled to take effect from September 20, digital courier platforms will be required to keep records showing what is contained in parcels, as well as details identifying the sender and recipient.

“A licensee shall keep a record of postal article including an electronic record of the transaction of both the sender and the recipient of a postal article,” read an official document obtained by Kenyans.co.ke .

The rules require courier services to provide the information to the CA and KRA, while police agencies may access the records when requested.

📌 What You Need to Know

The measures are intended to strengthen efforts to detect and prevent the movement of prohibited or unlawful goods through courier networks amid an intensified crackdown by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on related criminal activity.

They specifically require licensed operators to take steps to combat postal crimes, including illicit drug trafficking and the transportation of firearms.

Before accepting applicable items for delivery, courier operators will also be required to have senders declare the contents of their parcels.

Courier firms have been directed to establish mechanisms for verifying the identities of both senders and recipients and maintain electronic records of postal transactions.

In addition to these requirements, the regulations create a licensing category for courier hailing service providers operating digital platforms that connect customers with licensed courier operators.

Platforms and other licensed operators will be required to provide consumers with information on tariffs, prohibited items, service standards and complaint procedures.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke