- Author: Raymond
- Category: Insurance in Kenya
Insurance companies in kenya
See the updated 2026 list of insurance companies in Kenya licensed by IRA, including general, life, medical, microinsurance and reinsurance companies.
Insurance companies in kenya
Kenya has a diverse insurance market offering motor, medical, life, travel, property, business, liability and specialist insurance products.
However, consumers should purchase insurance only from companies licensed by the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Kenya.
The Insurance Regulatory Authority, commonly known as IRA, is the government agency responsible for regulating, supervising and developing Kenya’s insurance industry. It licenses insurers and intermediaries, monitors their conduct and publishes notices affecting insurance companies operating in the country.
According to the IRA register published under Section 184 of the Insurance Act, Kenya’s licensed insurance market in 2026 includes:
- 35 general insurance companies
- 22 long-term or life insurance companies
- Five licensed microinsurance companies
- Five licensed reinsurance companies
Some companies appear in more than one category because they are authorised to conduct both general and long-term insurance business.
This article provides the updated list of insurance companies in Kenya as published by IRA for 2026 and explains how consumers can compare insurers before purchasing cover.
Regulatory update: Licensing and operational status can change after an annual register is published. Consumers should confirm an insurer’s current position through the Insurance Regulatory Authority or a licensed insurance intermediary before paying a premium.
General Insurance Companies in Kenya
General insurance—also called short-term insurance—covers risks that are usually insured for renewable periods such as 12 months.
Depending on the classes for which an insurer is authorised, general insurance products may include:
- Motor insurance
- Medical insurance
- Travel insurance
- Fire and property insurance
- Marine insurance
- WIBA insurance
- Personal Accident insurance
- Burglary insurance
- Liability insurance
- Engineering insurance
- Agriculture insurance
- Theft insurance
- Miscellaneous business insurance
The following general insurers appeared in the IRA’s 2026 licensed-entities notice:
- AAR Insurance (Kenya) Limited
- Africa Merchant Assurance Company Limited
- APA Insurance Limited
- Britam General Insurance Company (K) Limited
- Bupa Global Insurance Limited
- Cannon General Insurance Company Limited
- CIC General Insurance Limited
- Directline Assurance Company Limited
- Definite Assurance Company Limited
- Equity General Insurance (Kenya) Limited
- Equity Health Insurance (Kenya) Limited
- Fidelity Shield Insurance Company Limited
- First Assurance Company Limited
- GA Insurance Limited
- Geminia Insurance Company Limited
- ICEA LION General Insurance Company Limited
- Intra Africa Assurance Company Limited
- Jubilee Health Insurance Limited
- Kenindia Assurance Company Limited
- Kenya Orient Insurance Limited
- Madison General Insurance Kenya Limited
- Mayfair Insurance Company Limited
- MUA Insurance (Kenya) Limited
- NCBA Insurance Company Limited
- Occidental Insurance Company Limited
- Old Mutual General Insurance Kenya Limited
- Pacis Insurance Company Limited
- Pioneer General Insurance Limited
- Sanlam Allianz General Insurance (Kenya) Limited
- Star Discover Insurance Limited
- Takaful Insurance of Africa Limited
- Tausi Assurance Company Limited
- The Heritage Insurance Company Limited
- The Kenyan Alliance Insurance Company Limited
- The Monarch Insurance Company Limited
An insurer’s appearance on the general-insurance list does not mean it is authorised to sell every type of general insurance. Each company is licensed for specific classes of business.
For example, some insurers specialise mainly in medical insurance, while others offer wider products across motor, property, liability, marine and other classes.
Long-Term and Life Insurance Companies in Kenya
Long-term insurers provide products designed to protect individuals, families, employees and organisations over extended periods.
Depending on their licensed classes, these companies may offer:
- Individual life insurance
- Group life insurance
- Funeral or last-expense insurance
- Education policies
- Retirement products
- Personal pensions
- Deposit administration
- Annuities
- Group credit life insurance
- Permanent health insurance
- Unit-linked investments
- Other long-term investment products
The following long-term insurers appeared in the IRA’s 2026 licensed-entities notice:
- ABSA Life Assurance Kenya Limited
- APA Life Assurance Limited
- Britam Life Assurance Company (K) Limited
- Cannon Life Assurance (K) Limited
- Capex Life Assurance Company Limited
- CIC Life Assurance Limited
- Equity Life Assurance (Kenya) Limited
- GA Life Assurance Limited
- Geminia Life Insurance Company Limited
- ICEA LION Life Assurance Company Limited
- Jubilee Life Insurance Limited
- Kenindia Assurance Company Limited
- Kenya Orient Life Assurance Limited
- Liberty Life Assurance Kenya Limited
- Madison Life Assurance Kenya Limited
- Old Mutual Life Assurance Kenya Limited
- Pioneer Assurance Company Limited
- Prudential Life Assurance Kenya Limited
- Sanlam Allianz Life Insurance (Kenya) Limited
- Star Discover Life Insurance Limited
- The Kenyan Alliance Insurance Company Limited
- The Monarch Insurance Company Limited
Consumers should not assume that all companies offer identical life products. Premiums, entry ages, medical requirements, waiting periods, surrender values, exclusions, investment structures and claims conditions can differ considerably.
Licensed Microinsurance Companies in Kenya
Microinsurance is designed to provide affordable and accessible protection for individuals, households, informal workers, small businesses and other customers who may require lower premiums and simpler benefits.
Microinsurance products may cover risks such as:
- Accidental death
- Disability
- Hospitalisation
- Funeral expenses
- Small business property
- Livestock
- Crops
- Household assets
- Other specified everyday risks
The following companies appeared in the 2026 licensed microinsurance category:
- APA Microinsurance Limited
- Birdview Micro Insurance Limited
- Britam Microinsurance Company (K) Limited
- CIC Microinsurance Limited
- Turaco Microinsurance Limited
Microinsurance should not be confused with informal savings arrangements or unregulated community schemes. A licensed microinsurer remains subject to regulation by IRA.
Licensed Reinsurance Companies in Kenya
Reinsurance companies provide insurance protection to primary insurance companies.
A consumer ordinarily purchases insurance from a general, life or microinsurance company—not directly from a reinsurer. The insurer may then transfer part of the risk to a reinsurer to manage large or accumulated exposures.
The following reinsurers appeared in the IRA’s 2026 licensed-entities notice:
- Continental Reinsurance Limited
- East Africa Reinsurance Company Limited
- Ghana Reinsurance Company (Kenya) Limited
- Kenya Reinsurance Corporation Limited
- WAICA Reinsurance (Kenya) Limited
Reinsurance supports the wider insurance market by helping insurers manage major claims, catastrophes and large commercial risks.
Important IRA Statutory Management Update
Being licensed at one point does not guarantee that an insurer’s status will remain unchanged throughout the year.
On 11 March 2026, the Insurance Regulatory Authority announced the placement of the following insurers under statutory management:
- Corporate Insurance Company Limited
- Trident Insurance Company Limited
- KUSCCO Mutual Assurance Limited
These companies appeared in older industry lists, but they should not be presented as ordinary active insurers available for new business.
Consumers and intermediaries should follow the official directions issued by IRA and the appointed statutory managers concerning existing policies, certificates, claims and other obligations.
This is also why an insurance-company list should always carry a clear “last updated” date.
Last updated: September 2026
Companies Removed or Corrected From the Previous List
The earlier version of this article contained several outdated names. Some companies had merged, rebranded, exited the market, entered statutory management or were no longer listed as active insurers in the 2026 register.
Important corrections include:
Allianz Insurance Company of Kenya Limited
This old name should not be listed separately from the current Sanlam Allianz entities.
The updated 2026 register includes:
- Sanlam Allianz General Insurance (Kenya) Limited
- Sanlam Allianz Life Insurance (Kenya) Limited
Barclays Life Assurance Kenya Limited
The updated name in the 2026 register is:
- ABSA Life Assurance Kenya Limited
Jubilee General Insurance
The updated general-insurance company appearing in the register is:
- Sanlam Allianz General Insurance (Kenya) Limited
Jubilee Life Insurance Limited and Jubilee Health Insurance Limited remain separately listed within their respective categories.
Metropolitan Cannon Companies
The current register lists:
- Cannon General Insurance Company Limited
- Cannon Life Assurance (K) Limited
The former Metropolitan Cannon names should therefore be updated.
Phoenix of East Africa Assurance
The current registered name is:
- MUA Insurance (Kenya) Limited
Madison Insurance Company Kenya Limited
The general and life businesses are now presented separately as:
- Madison General Insurance Kenya Limited
- Madison Life Assurance Kenya Limited
Geminia Insurance
The updated register separates the general and life entities as:
- Geminia Insurance Company Limited
- Geminia Life Insurance Company Limited
Pioneer Insurance
The general and life businesses appear as:
- Pioneer General Insurance Limited
- Pioneer Assurance Company Limited
Old Mutual and UAP-Old Mutual
The updated register includes:
- Old Mutual General Insurance Kenya Limited
- Old Mutual Life Assurance Kenya Limited
Invesco Assurance Company Limited
Invesco does not appear in the 2026 list of licensed general insurers. It was previously placed under statutory management, and the Official Receiver later took over its affairs.
Resolution Insurance Company Limited
Resolution Insurance does not appear in the 2026 IRA list of licensed general insurers.
Corporate Insurance and Trident Insurance
These companies do not appear among the 35 general insurers in the 2026 licensed list and were subsequently named in IRA’s March 2026 statutory-management announcement.
KUSCCO Mutual Assurance
KUSCCO Mutual Assurance does not appear among the 22 long-term insurers in the 2026 list and was placed under statutory management in March 2026.
Removing outdated company names prevents consumers from relying on an old list when making insurance decisions.
What Does It Mean When an Insurance Company Is Licensed by IRA?
IRA licensing means the insurer has been authorised to transact particular classes of insurance business in Kenya, subject to the Insurance Act and applicable regulations.
Licensing does not mean every insurer:
- Offers every insurance product
- Charges the same premium
- Uses identical policy wording
- Has the same hospital network
- Applies the same excesses
- Provides identical claims service
- Accepts every customer or risk
- Offers the same limits and extensions
A company may be licensed for medical insurance but not motor insurance. Another may offer motor and property insurance but not life insurance.
Consumers must therefore confirm that the insurer is authorised for the specific class of insurance required.
What Is the Difference Between an Insurance Company and an Insurance Agency?
An insurance company is the underwriter.
It:
- Issues the insurance policy
- Assumes the insured risk
- Sets underwriting terms
- Collects or receives the premium
- Assesses claims
- Pays approved claims
An insurance agency is an intermediary appointed to distribute insurance products and support customers.
A licensed insurance agency may:
- Obtain quotations
- Explain policy options
- Help clients compare premiums and benefits
- Submit business to insurers
- Arrange insurance certificates
- Assist with policy changes
- Guide clients during claims
- Follow up with insurers
Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd is an insurance intermediary based in Westlands, Nairobi. It helps individuals, families and businesses compare insurance quotations from licensed Kenyan insurance companies.
How to Choose an Insurance Company in Kenya
A company’s name or advertised premium should not be the only consideration.
Before buying insurance, examine the following factors.
Confirm the Insurer’s Current Licence
Check whether the company appears on IRA’s current register and whether it is licensed for the class of insurance required.
The insurer’s status should be verified again where there has been a recent regulatory notice, merger, transfer, receivership or statutory-management announcement.
Compare the Scope of Cover
A low premium may come with:
- Lower limits
- Higher excesses
- Restricted benefits
- Narrow hospital networks
- More exclusions
- Limited geographical cover
- Additional claim conditions
Compare the actual policy—not only the final price.
Understand the Exclusions
Every policy contains exclusions.
Ask what will not be covered before paying the premium. Important exclusions may relate to:
- Undeclared vehicle use
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Waiting periods
- Wear and tear
- Poor maintenance
- Political violence and terrorism
- Cyber incidents
- Hazardous occupations
- Undisclosed business activities
Examine Claims Requirements
Ask how claims are reported and which documents will be required.
Depending on the policy, you may need:
- Police abstracts
- Medical reports
- Repair estimates
- Photographs
- Purchase invoices
- Valuation reports
- Employer records
- Completed claim forms
A good intermediary should explain these requirements before a loss occurs.
Check Service Accessibility
Consider whether you can obtain assistance through:
- Telephone
- Physical offices
- Online portals
- Mobile applications
- Your insurance intermediary
Fast policy issuance is useful, but post-sale and claims support matter even more.
Compare Several Quotations
Insurance companies assess risks differently. Premiums, limits, excesses and additional benefits can vary even when the proposed cover appears similar.
A comparison should consider:
- Premium
- Policy benefits
- Limits
- Excesses
- Exclusions
- Optional extensions
- Claims requirements
- Payment options
- Insurer underwriting terms
Can Imana Compare All Insurance Companies?
Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd can obtain and compare quotations from selected licensed insurers with which it has applicable business arrangements.
Not every insurer will quote for every risk. A company may decline a proposal because of:
- Vehicle age
- Vehicle use
- Claims history
- Medical history
- Nature of the business
- Location
- Risk-control standards
- Requested limits
- Underwriting appetite
Quotation comparison does not mean automatically selecting the cheapest insurer. The objective is to identify a suitable balance between price, benefits, policy terms and claims support.
Insurance Products You Can Compare
Subject to insurer availability and underwriting, customers can compare quotations for:
- Private motor insurance
- Commercial motor insurance
- PSV taxi and matatu insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
- Medical insurance
- Travel insurance
- WIBA insurance
- Group Personal Accident insurance
- Group medical insurance
- Group life insurance
- Commercial property insurance
- Marine insurance
- Professional Indemnity insurance
- Public Liability insurance
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Cyber insurance
- Performance and bid bonds
- Home insurance
- Last-expense insurance
- Other personal and business covers
To request and compare quotations, visit the Imana Insurance quotation comparison platform.
For detailed insurance guides, claims information and authority content, visit Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd.
For travel insurance and related protection, visit MyKava Travel & Insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many licensed insurance companies are there in Kenya in 2026?
The IRA’s 2026 notice contains 35 general insurers, 22 long-term insurers, five microinsurers and five reinsurers. Some entities appear in both general and long-term categories.
Who regulates insurance companies in Kenya?
Insurance companies and insurance intermediaries are regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Authority under Kenya’s insurance laws.
Where can I verify a licensed insurance company?
Check the current IRA licensed-insurers register and recent public notices. You can also ask a licensed intermediary to confirm the insurer’s current status and authorised business classes.
Is every insurer licensed to sell motor insurance?
No. An insurer must be authorised for the relevant motor class. Medical-only and life insurers cannot automatically issue motor insurance.
Are life and general insurance the same?
No. General insurance covers areas such as motor, medical, property, travel and liability risks. Long-term insurance generally includes life assurance, pensions, annuities, group life and investment-related products.
Is an insurance broker or agency an insurance company?
No. An insurance company underwrites the risk and pays approved claims. An agency or broker acts as an intermediary between customers and insurers.
Which is the best insurance company in Kenya?
There is no single company that is automatically best for every customer and every product. The appropriate insurer depends on the required cover, policy benefits, price, limits, exclusions, service and risk profile.
Is the cheapest insurance company always the best?
No. The cheapest policy may have higher excesses, lower limits or more restrictive terms. Compare the complete policy before deciding.
Can an insurer’s status change after being licensed?
Yes. An insurer may merge, change its name, transfer business, stop writing a particular class or be placed under statutory management. Always verify current status before making payment.
What should I do if my insurer is placed under statutory management?
Read the latest IRA and statutory-manager notices. Contact your insurance intermediary for guidance concerning existing policies, claims, certificates and replacement arrangements. Do not rely solely on old policy documents or social-media reports.
Compare Insurance Companies and Quotations in Kenya
The Kenyan insurance market offers many choices, but more choice can also create confusion.
The right question is not simply, “Which insurer is cheapest?”
Ask:
- Is the insurer currently licensed?
- Is it authorised for the required class?
- What exactly does the policy cover?
- Which exclusions apply?
- What excess will I pay?
- Are the limits adequate?
- What documents will be required during a claim?
- Can I obtain reliable intermediary support?
Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd helps clients understand these differences and compare available quotations from selected licensed insurers.
Request a quotation through imanainsurance.com, explore insurance information at imana.co.ke, or arrange travel insurance through mykava.co.ke.
Author: Raymond Momanyi
Founder & CEO, Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd
4th Floor, Krishna Centre, Woodvale Grove, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone/WhatsApp: +254 796 209 402
Alternative telephone: +254 745 218 460
Email: info@imana.co.ke
Quotation Comparison: imanainsurance.com
Insurance Authority and Information: imana.co.ke
Travel and Insurance: mykava.co.ke
This list is based on the IRA licensed-entities notice for 2026 and regulatory information available as of September 2026. Licensing, business transfers and operational status may change. Readers should check the latest IRA register and public notices before purchasing insurance.
