Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) offices near the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) on Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi, now stand as a relic of a bygone era when post office boxes and stamped letters were the backbone of communication. 

Once a bustling hub, its walls now echo with nostalgia, a stark contrast to the digital revolution that has reshaped how people connect. The parastatal, which once dominated the messaging industry, has seen its fortunes wane over the past three decades, struggling to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. 

John Tonui, the Postmaster General and CEO of PCK, must have witnessed this decline first-hand as he grew up.  

The steady flow of letters and parcels has dwindled, causing a sharp drop in profits and morale as the organization grapples with the march of technology. 

However, beyond the disruption of the digital revolution, a more immediate challenge threatens PCK — mass encroachment on its idle land across the country. This is not a new issue, yet it has become increasingly urgent to address the plunder of resources at this corporation. Private developers and land grabbers have set their sights on PCK’s valuable parcels, eyeing them for lucrative real estate ventures. Tonui, however, now claims that he is determined to confront this looming threat. 

“The management of the Postal Corporation of Kenya has noted with great concern the illegal encroachment of PCK properties by private developers and trespassers. Posta Kenya takes this opportunity to warn any individuals or entities involved in any form of encroachment on the corporation’s properties,” he stated. 

He further disclosed that PCK has engaged the Lands and Housing Ministry, Lands Commission, and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to tackle the issue head-on. He warned that anyone caught trespassing risks arrest and prosecution. Despite these warnings, groups of ambitious developers appear determined to stake their claim on prime PCK’s land spread across the country. 

Recently, the corporation said, without disclosing the place, that its security personnel discovered developers illegally encroaching on its property. Swift action was taken, and the matter was reported to the authorities, prompting a public warning issued yesterday.  

Security personnel 

In a decisive move, Tonui, accompanied by PCK board chair Rose Nyamunga and security personnel, visited one of the suspected encroached parcels to issue a cautionary notice and halt any unauthorised developments. 

The illegal acquisition of PCK land is part of a broader trend of land grabbing in Kenya, where both public and private lands have been unlawfully taken by individuals and entities.  

Historically, land grabbing in Kenya goes back to the colonial era, leading to persistent ownership disputes. Even after independence, irregular allocation of public land continued to plague the country.  

The Eastern Africa Farmers’ Federation has documented these challenges, emphasizing their impact on smallholder farmers and public institutions alike. 

Reports indicate that several parcels of land allocated to PCK have been illegally acquired by private developers, sparking legal battles and efforts by the corporation to reclaim its assets.  

These unauthorised acquisitions have hindered PCK’s operations and expansion plans.  

However, while PCK focuses on reclaiming its land, some believe it should shift its priorities and get busy so as to utilise the available properties. Victor Onyango and Kennedy Ochieng, a section of concerned Kenyans argued that PCK should embrace new technology instead of fixating on land issues.  

“PCK needs to innovate or risk becoming obsolete. It has idle assets worth billions of shillings that could be leased, sold, or converted into viable commercial ventures to sustain its operations,” Ochieng observed. PCK is still at a crossroads. While reclaiming its grabbed land is crucial for safeguarding public assets, adapting to the digital era remains its biggest challenge.