It’s a sad state of affairs for the once mighty Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK), now reduced to a shell of its former self.
Mismanagement and strikes have plagued the corporation, leaving it struggling to pay its bills and keep up with the demands of the modern world.
The corporation, led by Postmaster General Dan Kagwe, can barely keep its lights on and has failed to adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape of the mail business.
Their services are simply too slow for the modern world.
Sometime in early 2022, this blog published a viral story of a customer who sparked reactions on social media after badly exposing the depth of incompetence at Posta.
She received her parcel more than two years after it was sent to her.
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, a recent WhatsApp conversation between a POSTA Kenya attendant and a customer has sparked outrage on social media.
The customer asked for the opening hours of the Embakasi Post office, to which the attendant replied with a long message that included the information that all post offices open at 8 am and close at 5 pm.
The next day, the frustrated customer revealed that they arrived at the Embakasi Post office at the given time, only to find it shut down.
“It’s 8:15 am and I have to leave because I will be late,” the angry client lamented to the attendant.
Adding: “This is wasted time and resources because of your inept services. That is why you are going down.”
Instead of apologising and finding ways to reassure the visibly upset client, the attendant unleashed a rude response, “Thank you, hope you don’t get late.”
As it continues to mistreat its few remaining customers, the corporation, which was once one of the country’s most valuable assets and biggest employers, is now facing its toughest challenge yet.
Its monopoly mandate is up for review in July 2023, and the government remains noncommittal on whether or not the licence will be renewed.
Meanwhile, Dan Kagwe, the man regarded by many as the latest face of mismanagement that has brought POSTA to its knees, continues to run the show.
In 2016, he assertively claimed that the PCK would return to profitability in three years, but this has yet to happen.
As the crucial date approaches, the future of the ailing parastatal hangs in the balance.
For the first time, the country could see part of the postal system officially taken up by the private sector.
The clock is ticking, and Posta Kenya needs to step up its game if it wants to avoid becoming a footnote in history.
