MPost rolls out e-post office box service in Rwanda

Roughly 6 months after relocating its base from Kenya to Kigali, digital postal service firm, MPost, has launched its electronic P.O. Box system in Rwanda to help locals of the East African country with access to better postal experiences. 

In November 2023, the firm ditched its home office in Westlands, Nairobi, for a space at Norrsken House Kigali, a co-working hub operated by the Swedish investment fund Norrsken—impact investors who made inroads to Africa in 2019.

At the time, MPost's founder, Twahir Mohamed, said relocating would help the service anchor Rwanda to expand across Africa. Regulatory issues back in Kenya however contributed to the move.

Now, MPost is kicking things off in the country by allowing individuals and businesses to receive mail and parcels directly using their mobile phone numbers, bypassing the need for conventional physical post office boxes, as it did in Kenya. 

This comes in handy for a country where less than 1% of the populace can use a post office. The system is hampered by limited and often challenging accessibility, leaving a huge gap in need of filling. This electronic alternative will allow Rwandans to conveniently control mail management via instant SMS alerts. 

The launch comes timely, coinciding with the government's ongoing efforts to leverage technology for public service improvement. On May 10, 2024, Iposita, the National Post Office rolled out its own electronic P.O. Box to extend reach from the capital to remote locations nationwide.

Digital postal solutions would have a positive effect on Rwandan eCommerce, allowing actors to expand their reach, improve customer satisfaction, and cut down delivery time frames. It will help local enterprises thrive and reinforce the country's status as an emerging force in East African digital commerce. 

"The system's efficiency will reduce logistical challenges and operational costs for e-commerce platforms, encouraging more start-ups and established companies to invest in Rwanda's digital economy," MPost's official statement reads.