Why is getting one box out of Kenya so hard?
Have you tried to send parcels from Kenya through a busy relative who promised to do it on Saturday? Still, three Saturdays later, the box is in their boot.
It is nobody’s fault, because packing and posting takes a whole morning in Nairobi traffic.
First, there are forms to fill, a counter queue and a clerk who wants the box opened. Then someone has to pay and send you the tracking number.
That is a big favour to ask, so most people keep waiting.
We make it a job, not a favour. You tell us what to send and where. Then we collect it, pack it properly and hand it to a courier with you watching on WhatsApp.
OnGround Africa is your person on the ground in Kenya. When you need to send parcels from Kenya, we do the running so you only open the box.
Who asks us to send parcels from Kenya?
Students who left in a hurry and forgot their winter coat. Then there are nurses abroad who need a certificate posted by Friday.
Parents who want their grandchildren to taste proper Kenyan tea. Meanwhile, shop owners need a sample before they place a big order.
Still, different people share the same problem. Nobody at home has a free morning to send parcels from Kenya for them.
What can we help you send?
People ask us to send parcels from Kenya for all sorts of reasons. So here are the common ones.
Personal items
- Clothes, shoes and books left at your parents’ house
- Photo albums, keepsakes and family papers
- A laptop or phone you forgot when you moved
- Gifts from family for your children abroad
A taste of home
- Kenyan tea and coffee
- Spices, snacks and sweets from a local supermarket
- Kikoys, kangas and Maasai beadwork
- Kitenge fabric for a tailor abroad
Documents
- Certificates, transcripts and letters
- Signed papers that must reach someone by a deadline
- Collected documents from offices in Nairobi
Business items
- Product samples from a Kenyan supplier
- Printed materials, labels or packaging samples
- Small stock orders for a shop abroad
Food and some goods face strict rules in the country they land in. That is why we check with the courier before we pack, so the box does not get stopped at the other end.
For papers only, our ship documents from Kenya page covers the steps in more detail.
Mixed boxes
Many people want to send parcels from Kenya with a mix of things. For example, a certificate, two kikoys and a packet of tea in one box.
That is fine, because we pack the papers flat in their own envelope and wrap the rest around them, so nothing gets bent or stained.
In fact, one box often costs less than two small ones, so we will tell you if combining makes sense for your list.
How do we send parcels from Kenya for you?
There are six clear steps, while you stay in control of every one.
- Tell us the job. What to collect or buy, where it is and where it is going.
- Get a written quote. Our fee, the item budget and the courier estimate are shown on separate lines.
- Approve and pay. You pay only after you approve the quote.
- We collect or buy. We send photos of every item before packing.
- We pack and ship. You see the packed box, the courier receipt and the tracking number.
- You track it home. We follow up with the courier if anything stalls.
That is how we send parcels from Kenya without the endless back and forth.
What to tell us in your first message
- A list of items, with photos if you have them
- Where we collect from, plus the name and phone of the person there
- Your full delivery address abroad
- Your deadline, if there is one
- Whether you prefer the fastest or the cheapest courier
A voice note is fine, since we will ask follow up questions if anything is missing.
The more detail you share, the faster we can send parcels from Kenya for you. A clear list also means nothing is left behind.
Collecting from family
Often the items sit with a relative, so we call them, agree a time and collect.
Then we check the items against your list in front of them. Nothing leaves their house without a photo record.
Families like this part, because they see exactly what is going and they can add a note or a small gift before we send parcels from Kenya to you.
Which courier should you use to send parcels from Kenya?
It depends on what matters most to you, for example speed, cost or tracking.
The national postal service
Posta Kenya runs international mail and parcel services. Its Posta Kenya courier services page says EMS is offered in more than 3,000 destinations worldwide and can be sent from over 285 acceptance centres in Kenya.
The same page says international parcels have track and trace. It also gives the maximum Universal Postal Union weight as 31.5 kg, though some countries set lower limits.
The Posta Kenya customer service charter lists a transit time for EMS International of 2 to 5 days depending on destination. However, that is Posta’s own published standard, not ours.
Private international couriers
Large international couriers have offices in Nairobi. They are often quicker to some countries but usually cost more.
We compare a few options for your box, then send you the choices. You pick, then we book.
How we choose with you
- Urgent papers: a fast courier with door to door tracking
- Heavy but not urgent: a slower, cheaper service
- Fragile items: a courier that accepts insured, well packed boxes
We never pick a courier for you without asking. So you see the price before we send parcels from Kenya.
Tracking and follow up
Once the box is handed over, we send you the tracking number and the courier receipt. As a result, you can follow it yourself from your phone.
If the tracking stops moving, tell us, so we can call the courier office in Nairobi and ask what is happening.
Sometimes a parcel waits for a customs check or a missing phone number. In that case, a quick follow up from someone local can get it moving again.
What does it cost?
Our fee to send parcels from Kenya depends on what you need us to do. Here are our published prices in USD.
| Job | Our fee |
|---|---|
| Document pickup and courier abroad | $75 plus courier at cost |
| Errand in Nairobi, such as collecting, buying or packing a parcel | From $50 |
| Gift delivery in Nairobi, if a gift stays in Kenya | $60 plus the gift cost |
| Supplier verification visit with report (Nairobi area) | $250 |
| Pre shipment inspection | $350 |
Courier charges are always passed on at cost, so you see the courier’s own receipt.
Items we buy for you are a separate budget, while every receipt comes to you with a photo of the item.
Add ons
- Collection outside Nairobi: travel quoted upfront
- Urgent same week service: adds 25 percent
You get a written quote first and pay only after you approve it. We quote in USD and you can pay by card, PayPal, bank or M Pesa. We confirm payment options with your quote.
Want to see every price we charge? Visit our OnGround Africa pricing page.
Why the courier is the biggest cost
International shipping is priced by weight and size. For example, a bulky but light box can cost as much as a heavy one, because couriers charge by volume too.
So we pack tight and remove extra air and boxes where it is safe. That small step can make it much cheaper to send parcels from Kenya.
An example of how a quote looks
Say you want a certificate collected from your parents in Kileleshwa and sent to London. That is document pickup and courier abroad, so our fee is $75 plus the courier charge at cost.
Say you also want two packets of tea and a kikoy bought and added. The item budget then sits on its own line, with every receipt shared.
You see the full picture in writing before you approve, so nothing is added after you pay.
How do we pack so nothing breaks?
A parcel travels through many hands, so it gets stacked, dropped and squeezed.
So when we send parcels from Kenya, we pack for the journey, not for the counter.
- A strong new box, not a reused carton that has gone soft
- Bubble wrap or paper around anything fragile
- Liquids sealed and bagged, where the courier allows them
- Heavy items at the bottom and soft items on top
- Strong tape on every seam
- Your address and ours, printed clearly inside and outside
We photograph the open box once packed, then again sealed and labelled. So if anything is disputed later, you have a clear record.
Documents need special care
Certificates and originals go in a stiff envelope so they do not bend. We also copy or scan them first, with your permission, so you have a backup.
Electronics
Laptops and phones need care with batteries. That is because couriers have their own rules on lithium batteries, so we check them before we book.
In short, packing well is the quiet secret behind every safe box. It is a big part of how we send parcels from Kenya with confidence.
Labels and addresses
A wrong postcode or a missing phone number is a common reason boxes get stuck. So we check your address with you before we print the label.
We also add a phone number for you and one for us. That way the courier can reach someone at either end.
Customs: what happens at both ends?
Every international parcel crosses at least two borders. In other words, Kenya’s and the one it lands in.
The Posta Kenya courier services page says senders must declare the contents of overseas parcels at the post office, since they go through customs. Private couriers also ask for a declaration.
What a declaration includes
- A clear list of what is inside
- The value of each item
- Whether it is a gift, a sale or personal effects
- The sender and receiver details
We fill this in honestly with you, so we never undervalue items or hide what is inside.
Honest paperwork is the safest way to send parcels from Kenya. That is because it keeps your box moving and keeps you out of trouble at the other end.
False declarations can lead to delays, fines or a seized parcel. So that is not worth the risk for any box.
Duties at your end
Your country may charge import duty or tax on arrival. However, the amount depends on the rules where you live and the value of the box.
Of course, we cannot tell you what your customs will charge. If you are unsure, check with your local customs office before we send parcels from Kenya.
Gifts, personal effects and goods for sale
How you label a parcel matters, because a gift from your mother is not the same as stock for your shop.
So we ask what the items are for and label them truthfully. When you send parcels from Kenya for business, the paperwork must say so.
What can we not send?
Some things cannot travel, while others need permits we do not handle.
Each courier and each destination has its own banned and restricted lists. So we check those lists for your box before packing.
We will not send
- Anything illegal in Kenya or in the destination country
- Cash, bank cards or anything that hides money
- Weapons, drugs or anything that looks like them
- Items we have not seen and checked ourselves
- Parcels from strangers who are not on your list
In fact, that last point protects you. We will only send parcels from Kenya that we have packed with our own hands.
If a stranger asks you to have us send parcels from Kenya on their behalf, please say no. After all, a box you cannot vouch for is a risk to you.
Plants, animal products and food
Seeds, plants, meat, honey and some foods are often restricted by the destination country. Some also need certificates from Kenyan authorities first.
We tell you plainly if an item is likely to be stopped, then suggest a safer alternative.
Sealed, shop bought and clearly labelled products usually travel better than homemade food. If you want to send parcels from Kenya with food inside, we start with packaged items and check the rules for your country.
Can you send parcels from Kenya for a business?
Yes. Many businesses abroad need to send parcels from Kenya in small, regular shipments.
- Samples from a new supplier before a big order
- Printed packaging to approve before a production run
- Small batches of crafts, beadwork or fabric for a shop
- Paperwork that must reach a partner by a deadline
For samples, we visit the supplier, photograph the goods and then pack them ourselves. That way you know the sample you get is the one the supplier made.
When a parcel turns into an order
If the sample is good, you may then want to order more. That is the moment to check the supplier properly.
Our sourcing agent in Kenya page explains how we find and compare suppliers. For larger shipments, see export from Kenya.
Before the full order ships, a pre shipment inspection at $350 lets you see the goods before they leave. Small business boxes still follow the same careful steps when we send parcels from Kenya.
Repeat shipments
Some shops abroad send parcels from Kenya every month. Beadwork for a market stall or coffee for a small café, for example.
So we set up a simple routine with you. Same supplier, same packing, same courier, with photos of every box before it leaves.
Why trust us to send parcels from Kenya?
OnGround Africa is run by Patrick Maina in Nairobi. Patrick has shipped certificates to the US for clients abroad.
He also runs Growth Catalyst, with more than 870 projects delivered over 8 years. That work earned 452 five star reviews from clients in more than 56 countries.
A client from Ethiopia wrote, “Patrick does amazing groundwork for those who are remote from Kenya.” Sending your box home is exactly that kind of groundwork.
Our promise
- A written quote first
- You pay only after you approve the quote
- Photo and video proof on every job
- Updates on WhatsApp in your time zone
We do not promise delivery dates, because those belong to the courier.
Instead, we promise to follow up if your box stalls. We call the courier, share the reply and keep you posted until it arrives.
We also keep your photos, receipts and tracking numbers in one WhatsApp thread. If you ever need to send parcels from Kenya again, your past boxes are easy to find.
Need papers collected from a Kenyan office first? Our Kenya documents from abroad service handles the legwork before we send parcels from Kenya to you.
Ready to send parcels from Kenya?
Tell us what to collect, where it is and where it should go. We then reply with a written quote and courier options.
- WhatsApp: +254 724 991 531
- Email: patrick@growthcatalyst.co.ke
Have a box sitting at a relative’s house right now? Then send us their number, so we can call them, collect it and get it moving.
Not sure what will fit or what it will cost? Then send us a photo of the pile, so we can tell you how to send parcels from Kenya for the least money.
Send parcels from Kenya with one message. Then we handle the box, the queue and the tracking.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to send parcels from Kenya with you?
Documents cost $75 plus courier at cost. Collecting, buying or packing other items is an errand from $50, plus the courier charge at cost. Of course, you get a written quote before we start.
How long will my parcel take?
That depends on the courier and the service you choose. We share the courier’s own published times when we send options. However, we do not set delivery dates ourselves.
Can you buy things in Kenya and send them to me?
Yes. We agree a budget for the items, buy them and then send you photos and receipts. Then we pack them and send parcels from Kenya straight to your door.
Will I get a tracking number?
Yes, whenever the courier service offers tracking. Every time we send parcels from Kenya, the tracking number comes to you. We also send you the receipt and the tracking number as soon as the box is handed over.
What if customs at my end charges duty?
Import duty is set by your country and is paid at your end. So we cannot predict it for you. Check with your local customs office if you are unsure.
Can you collect from outside Nairobi?
Yes. Travel outside Nairobi is quoted upfront. However, sometimes a local courier can bring the item to Nairobi more cheaply. We will suggest it if so.
