By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, July 6, 2026 - Digital delivery platforms including Uber, Bolt, Glovo and other courier-hailing companies will pay higher licensing and operating fees under new regulations proposed by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) as the government moves to regulate and tap revenue from the country's fast-growing delivery economy.
The proposed framework introduces a new Courier-Hailing Service Provider Licence, targeting technology-based platforms that connect customers with delivery riders and drivers.
If approved, companies operating in the sector will be required to pay a minimum licence fee of KSh100,000 and annual operating charges equivalent to 0.4% of their gross annual turnover or KSh100,000, whichever is higher.
They will also remit a Universal Service Levy of 0.5% of their audited annual gross turnover.
According to the Communications Authority, the reforms are intended to align regulation with the rapid growth of app-based courier services, which have become an integral part of Kenya's e-commerce, food delivery and last-mile logistics ecosystem.
"The revised market structure presents the following amendments: introduction of a courier-hailing service provider licence targeting companies that leverage technology to manage courier services by linking customers with collection and delivery service providers," the CA said in its review of the postal and courier market structure.
The proposed regulations are expected to affect global platforms such as Uber, Bolt, Glovo and Little, alongside emerging local delivery companies that have expanded rapidly in response to growing consumer demand for home deliveries, parcel logistics and same-day courier services.
The sector has witnessed significant growth as more consumers and businesses embrace online shopping and digital commerce.
The move comes just weeks after Uber applied for a National Courier Operator Licence, signalling its intention to expand beyond ride-hailing and food delivery into parcel logistics.
If approved, the licence would allow the company to collect, transport and deliver parcels and documents nationwide, placing it in direct competition with established courier operators and digital delivery platforms.
The government argues that the current regulatory framework has not kept pace with technological changes in the courier industry, where digital platforms increasingly coordinate deliveries without falling under traditional postal licensing requirements.
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Officials believe the new licensing regime will improve oversight, create a level playing field and enhance consumer protection while enabling the State to collect additional revenue from one of Kenya's fastest-growing digital sectors.
Industry analysts say the higher fees could increase operating costs for delivery platforms, potentially prompting companies to review their pricing models or commission structures.
While large multinational firms are expected to absorb the additional costs, smaller and emerging operators may face greater compliance challenges as the market becomes more tightly regulated.
The proposed licensing framework also reflects the government's broader push to formalise Kenya's digital economy. In recent months, authorities have introduced new regulations targeting ride-hailing operators, online taxi services and digital commerce platforms as part of efforts to strengthen consumer protection, improve tax compliance and create sustainable regulatory frameworks for technology-driven businesses.
If implemented, the new courier licensing regime is expected to reshape competition in Kenya's rapidly expanding delivery market, where demand continues to rise on the back of e-commerce growth, food delivery services and increased reliance on digital logistics solutions by businesses and households.