Photo: Lebu Ayiga, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Insurance in Kenya: the rules, the insurers, your rights
The Kenyan insurance market in figures
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Life (long-term) premiums, 2025 | KES 235.39 billion (+23.1%) | IRA Q4 2025 release |
| General premiums, 2025 | KES 227.17 billion | IRA Q4 2025 release |
| Micro-insurance premiums, 2025 | KES 2.17 billion | IRA Q4 2025 release |
| Insurance penetration, 2023 (provisional) | 2.39% of GDP (2.29% in 2022) | IRA Annual Report 2023 |
| Complaints registered by IRA, Q4 2025 | 524 — 82.8% about general insurers | IRA Q4 2025 release |
Life business has grown faster than general business and is now slightly larger. Most complaints received by the regulator concern general insurance, which includes motor and medical cover.
Who regulates insurance in Kenya
The IRA licenses insurers in five classes — micro-insurance, long-term, general, long-term reinsurance and general reinsurance — and sets their minimum paid-up capital, from KES 50 million for a micro-insurer to KES 600 million for a general insurer (IRA). It also licenses agents, brokers, bancassurance intermediaries, loss adjusters, motor assessors and medical insurance providers, all searchable in its registry.
If an insurer fails, the Policyholders Compensation Fund exists to protect policyholders.
Guides for Kenya
Vehicles
- Motor insurance in Kenya: what Cap. 405 requiresCap. 405 in plain words: what third-party cover pays, the penalty, and how to check a certificate on *352#.
- Third-party vs comprehensive car insurance in KenyaWhat the Cap. 405 minimum pays for, what only a broader policy covers, and how to compare quotes.
- How to check a motor insurance certificate in Kenya (*352# and DMVIC)Dial *352#, use the DMVIC app or verify.dmvic.com — what the check shows and how to spot a fake.
- Boda boda and motorcycle insurance in KenyaMotorcycle taxis need third-party PSV insurance; passengers must be covered. Helmets, jackets and tuk-tuks.
- Matatu, PSV and ride-hailing insurance in KenyaNTSA licensing needs PSV third-party insurance; ride-hailing cars need valid cover and must be ≤16 years old.
Health and life
- Health insurance in Kenya: SHA contributions and private coverSHA replaced NHIF in October 2024: 2.75% of income, KES 300 minimum. Where private cover fits.
- SHA contribution calculator: how much you pay each month2.75% of income, minimum KES 300 a month, no ceiling — calculate it, plus due dates and the 2% penalty.
- Life insurance in Kenya: types of policy and who sells themTerm, whole life, education policies — and the 22 life insurers licensed for 2026.
Home, business and travel
- Home insurance in Kenya: what a domestic package coversOptional in Kenya: what a domestic package covers, what to compare, and the 90-day claim rule.
- Business insurance in Kenya: WIBA and what employers must insureWIBA insurance is compulsory for every employer: fines up to KES 100,000 plus KES 10,000 a day.
- Driving abroad from Kenya: the COMESA yellow cardThe yellow card for cross-border driving: cover, where to buy, and the *384*254# check.
Frequently asked questions
Is car insurance compulsory in Kenya?
Yes. Section 4 of the Insurance (Motor Vehicles Third Party Risks) Act, Cap. 405, forbids using a motor vehicle on a road without a policy covering third-party risks. See motor insurance in Kenya.
How many insurance companies are licensed in Kenya?
IRA's 2026 notice lists 22 long-term (life) insurers, 35 general insurers and 5 micro-insurers; three companies hold both a life and a general licence, so 59 companies in all, plus 5 reinsurers.
What replaced NHIF?
The Social Health Authority (SHA), under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, launched on 1 October 2024.
Sources
- Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) Kenya — official website
- IRA Kenya — Licensed Entities 2026 (notice under section 184 of the Insurance Act, dated 30 March 2026)
- IRA Kenya — Quarter 4 2025 insurance industry release
- IRA Kenya — Insurance Industry Annual Report 2023
- IRA Kenya — insurers and reinsurers: licence classes and minimum capital