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Insurance in Kenya

Insurance in Kenya: the rules, the insurers, your rights

Regulator: IRA Kenya (official site)

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Cap. 405 motor cover, SHA contributions, the 2026 list of licensed insurers and how to complain to IRA.

Reviewed on 23 September 2026 by the Tulinde editorial team · how we check facts

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Short answerChecked 23 September 2026

Insurance in Kenya is regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), which licensed 22 life, 35 general and 5 micro-insurers for 2026. Third-party motor insurance is compulsory under Cap. 405. Public health cover is run by the Social Health Authority (SHA), funded by contributions of 2.75% of income (minimum KES 300 a month). Insurance was 2.39% of GDP in 2023, the latest official figure.

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59licensed insurers checked against the regulator's own list

Key factsSource: IRA Kenya

Regulator: IRA Kenya
Compulsory cover: Motor third-party (Cap. 405)
Insurance penetration (2023, official): 2.39% of GDP
Licensed insurers (2026 notice): 59 companies (3 with two licences)
Public health insurance: SHA — 2.75% of income, min. KES 300/month

Insurance in Kenya

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59 licensed insurers in Kenya

Counted from the regulator's register: Licensed Entities 2026 (Insurance Regulatory Authority of Kenya, notice dated 30 March 2026). Being on it means a company is licensed — it is not a rating.

22Long-term (life) insurers
35General insurers
5Micro-insurers

22 + 35 + 5 = 62 entries for 59 companies: 3 companies hold two licences and appear on two lists of the regulator (Kenindia, Kenyan Alliance, Monarch).

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Topics: Motor & vehicles · Health & life · Home, business & travel · Insurers & your rights

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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.

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.