Getting a Package in Nairobi
We have received a few packages through the mail since moving to Nairobi. We'd been told to keep them small; roughly the size of a large 8 in x 10 in envelope. And that had worked fine for the first few months.Then we received a package slip which told us to go to the main post office in the city to get our package. I, Mike, took a matatu (van-sized public transportation) into the city, which took about 30 minutes. Then I walked another 15 minutes to the post office and found the correct place to collect packages from overseas.
First, I presented the package slip at a counter and showed an ID. Then a postal worker retrieved the package. The package was then opened and the contents inspected. When all agreed that it was personal, I was sent to the customs office, where the customs officer signed a paper saying that it was okay. Then I went to another window to get a different copy of the package slip, and learned that there was a 70 Kenya shilling charge for handling. Next I went to another counter to pay the fee and get a receipt. With the receipt I was able to take the package. As I walked out of the large room, another postal worker near the exit called me over to sign that I'd received the package. So, 7 counters (some were repeated) and about 45 minutes later I had the small package in hand. I found another matatu and was home after a total of around 1 hour and 4o minutes.
We thought that this was a bit of a nuisance, but doable. Little did we know. A week later we received 2 more small yellow package slips telling us to collect packages at the main post office. I decided to show Cindy how to get packages, so that either of us could do this.
So at 9 AM we boarded a matatu (sometimes called Nissans, because most are built by Nissan) after waiting several minutes, then promptly got stuck in a big traffic jam (or simply, a jam, as they say in Nairobi). We finally arrived at the bus terminal and walked 1/2 mile to the post office.
I thought it would be easier this time since I sort of knew the ropes. However, when we opened one of the packages, we learned that customs always needs to be paid on dietary supplements. We'd simply asked someone to send us some multi-vitamins. We were charged 1 Kenya shilling per tablet and sent over to the customs desk. I was expecting to get a document to take to counter S9 (as I'd done before) and pay the few hundred shillings. I was wrong!
A new anti-corruption measure now requires that all customs charges be paid to the Kenya Revenue Authority at the Kenya National Bank. Being new to Nairobi, we asked the customs official where this bank was. He told us, very casually, that it was just across the street over there, and that there was a special window to pay at. So, we left the post office (overseas package pick-up is on the 3rd floor), walking down three flights of steps, back up another flight to the walkway that crosses the busy Haile Selassie Avenue, and back down another flight on the other side of the street.
Just to the right was a large building with National Bank of Kenya written on it. We went to this building and showed them the bill for customs payment. We were told to go to Times Tower just down the street, where the Kenya Revenue Authority is located. This seemed logical as the customs bill had Kenya Revenue Authority written in bold letters across the top.
At this building we had to wait in a long security line, where security officers waved a metal detector around us. Women had a separate line (or queue), which was shorter, so Cindy got inside before me. I got inside just a few minutes later. Upon entering the building we saw hundreds, maybe thousands of people in various lines. We went upstairs, as we were told to do, and asked a few people about how we should pay this customs bill. The first couple of people sent us to various windows, and since we weren't certain, we didn't want to wait hours in line just to be sent elsewhere. Finally, someone told us that we were, once again, in the wrong building. We should go to the National Bank of Kenya, which was around the block.
A short walk later, and this time the directions given were precise and accurate, we arrived at the bank. We went in the wrong door, of course, and were directed to the correct entrance. Inside we again saw a line of a hundred people. Fortunately, we looked around and found a much shorter line waiting near a cashier window, titled 'Kenya Revenue Authority'. Though the line was short, the wait was fairly long. But, finally we were able to pay the 300+ Kenya shilling (about $4) customs fee.
We walked back to the post office and went to a few more counters, including S9 to get a receipt, and then, received our package. By this time it was approaching noon. We got back home just before 1 PM, as we did a couple of quick errands in town before boarding another matatu.
Now we are wondering! Will experiences like this make us appreciate packages more, or less?
posted by Brislen Family @ 7:58 PM
0 comments
