MPost introduces e-mailbox service in Rwanda

About six months after moving its base from Kenya to Kigali, digital postal service company MPost has launched its electronic PO Box system in Rwanda to help residents of the East African country access better postal services.

In November 2023, the company abandoned its office in Westlands in Nairobi for space in Norrsken House Kigali, a coworking center operated by the Swedish investment fund Norrsken – influential investors who came to Africa in 2019.

MPost founder Twahir Mohamed said at the time that the move would help the service anchor Rwanda in its expansion across Africa. However, regulatory issues in Kenya contributed to this move.

Now MPost is launching in the country, enabling individuals and businesses to receive mail and parcels directly using their mobile phone numbers, eliminating the need to use conventional physical mailboxes as was the case in Kenya.

This is useful in a country where less than 1% of the population can use email. The system is hampered by limited and often difficult accessibility, which leaves a huge gap that needs filling. This electronic alternative will enable Rwandans to conveniently control their mail management through instant SMS notifications.

The launch is timely and coincides with the government’s ongoing efforts to use technology to improve public services. On May 10, 2024, Poczta Krajowa Iposita launched its own electronic post office box to expand its reach from the capital to remote locations across the country.

Digital postal solutions would have a positive impact on e-commerce in Rwanda, enabling entities to expand their reach, improve customer satisfaction and reduce delivery times. It will help local businesses thrive and strengthen the country’s status as an emerging force in digital commerce in East Africa.

“The system’s efficiency will reduce the logistical challenges and operational costs of e-commerce platforms, encouraging more start-ups and established companies to invest in Rwanda’s digital economy,” MPosta said in an official statement.