Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Francis Wangusi. [Photo:thebigissue.co.ke]

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The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) has warned entities providing postal and couriers service without a valid licence saying they risk fines of not more than Sh200,000.

This is as CA announced plans to revamp the regulatory framework targeting the e-commerce industry.

"It is illegal to do so and such service providers risk heavy penalties and long jail terms or convictions," CAK Director General Francis Wangusi says in a public notice published on the regulator's website this week.

This follows increased illegal provision and use of postal and courier services by some of the e-commerce platforms hence lowering the credibility and trust levels of such services.

"The authority would like to inform the general public that it is in the process of revamping the regulatory framework to provide for the sustainable growth of trust in the e-commerce environment in Kenya," Wangusi adds.

While at this, Wangusi has adviced members of the public to procure postal and courier services only from duly-licensed and compliant entities that are in possession of valid annual compliance certificates as provided for under the Kenya Information and Communications Act of 1998.

Unlike last year, where the authority revoked licences of 38 postal and courier firms for failing to adhere to set the quality of standards passed in February 2016, they did not list some of the service providers blacklisted before the revamped e-commerce regulations take effect.