Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) has partnered with Swift Lab Ltd to roll out drone based last mile delivery services countrywide for medical supplies, e-commerce purchases and essential cargo.

Under the three-year agreement, Swift Lab Ltd, a Kenyan cargo drone company will manufacture and operate drones that can travel up to 70km and carry a payload of up to 4kg.

“We want to invest in the production of drones as an obligation as government to invest in Kenyan technology,” said Dan Kagwe, the CEO and Postmaster General of PCK in a statement.

Speaking during the signing ceremony of the agreement, Kagwe said the partnership would make the delivery of essential medical supplies and other goods speedy and cost effective, through getting rid of middlemen. PCK currently has a partnership agreement with Kenya Medical Supplies Authority.

Swift Lab Limited will provide the technical expertise in the drones’ design, manufacturing, maintenance, software integrations and regulatory approvals, while adjusting the kilometres of travel for drones to up to 200km and above on a need basis.

James Munyoki, the CEO and Co-Founder of Swift Lab said the firm has already been issued a remote aircraft operations certificate by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, which makes it the only company approved for drone manufacturing and one of a few approved to operate drones in the country.

The two organisations will jointly mobilise resources for manufacturing the drones, while PCK will provide its facilities across the country as operation bases for drone delivery services.