ICT CS William Kabogo casts Kenya's vote during the Postal Operations Council (POC), September 18, 2025. /CA/X
Kenya has secured re-election to the Postal Operations Council (POC) of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), reinforcing its role in shaping the global postal agenda for the next four years.
The election took place on Thursday during the 2025 UPU Congress, where Kenya received 127 votes, enough to secure one of the 11 slots reserved for Africa in the 48-member body.
The Postal Operations Council is the technical and operational arm of the UPU, the United Nations agency that oversees international postal services.
It plays a central role in developing strategies, setting standards and guiding reforms aimed at strengthening postal systems across the world.
By winning a seat, Kenya joins other African nations, including Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Tanzania, Seychelles, Botswana, Cabo Verde and Guinea, who will collectively represent the continent in the council.
Egypt topped the African tally with 135 votes, while Algeria and Morocco each garnered 129.
Senegal followed with 119, Tunisia 108, Tanzania 123 and Seychelles 104, with the remaining seats filled by Botswana, Cabo Verde and Guinea.
Kenya’s delegation to the congress was led by the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo, who cast the country’s vote and represented its interests in the high-level discussions.
Speaking after the election, officials highlighted the significance of the victory, noting that continued membership gives Kenya an opportunity to contribute to shaping postal reforms and to benefit from the exchange of technological and operational expertise.
The POC convenes annually at the UPU headquarters in Berne, Switzerland. It is mandated to oversee the operational, economic and commercial dimensions of the postal sector, including the modernisation of products and services.
The council also issues recommendations to member states, particularly where common standards and uniform practices are required for the efficient flow of international mail and related services.
Currently chaired by France, represented by Jean-Paul Forceville of La Poste Groupe, the POC has been instrumental in guiding the global postal network through a period of transformation driven by digitalisation, e-commerce and changing customer expectations.
With its re-election, Kenya is expected to strengthen its efforts in modernising domestic postal operations while also contributing to international policy discussions.
The council’s secretariat is based in Switzerland, where it coordinates technical work and facilitates the implementation of the council’s recommendations.
For Kenya, continued membership underscores its commitment to building a resilient and modern postal sector that remains relevant in the evolving global communication and logistics landscape.
