Thursday, February 11, 2010

Opening a Post Office Box in Nairobi

This was incredibly easy. I'm still reeling from how simple and quick the whole process was considering the institution is part of a bureaucracy. And also because I went to one of the smaller Post Offices! Forget GPO (00100) or City Square (00200). I shuddered at one of the employees suggestion of going to the Nyayo Stadium post office to try my luck as the first two are completely full and there's a waiting list the length of the ICC corruption charge sheet.

I remembered on many of my walkabouts to Biashara (Business) Street where you can find any and all kikoy fabric and touristy stuff at normal prices, that there was a new branch at the Jamia Mall which is right next to the very large and active Jamia Mosque. The Jamia Mall is what I would imagine upscale Mogadishu would offer. It's a three story building with a hotel at the top called the Jamiat Hotel. The post office is right next to it in the same building. There are no queues! At all! And the process of opening the account was painless and fast and I've now discovered a place to make my DSTV payments in addition to other utility bills.

The only problem I forsee is its location. A few weeks ago, there was a riot and most of the action took place around there so there are still some missing window panes all over the place. But other than that, a lovely spot and smack dab in the city.

Something nice about Kenya....finally.

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