Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenyan insurer Amaco has launched an aggressive, nationwide crackdown on fraudulent insurance claims as part of a renewed campaign to restore trust in the sector and safeguard the company’s ability to compensate legitimate policyholders.
Speaking during a forum with independent agents on Friday, CEO Esther Mugure said rising fraud—now one of the most expensive threats to the country’s insurance industry—has forced the company to intensify surveillance, expand investigative teams, and enlist state security agencies to dismantle networks behind fake claims.
“We all know fraud has really increased in the insurance sector. There are people who are working hard to harvest where they did not sow,” Mugure said.
“If fraud overtakes, it makes it harder to pay the genuine claims. That is why we must crack down on these cases decisively.”
At the centre of Amaco’s strategy is a reinforced team of field investigators deployed across the country. Their work involves scrutinising suspicious claims, verifying accident reports, flagging doctored documents, and uncovering collusion rings often involving garages, assessors, or policyholders.
The insurer has also intensified collaboration with law enforcement, including the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, a partnership Mugure describes as essential in tackling syndicates that have grown more sophisticated in recent years. The insurer says the crackdown is not only punitive but also protective.
By eliminating fraudulent payouts, resources are freed up for legitimate claimants—customers who depend on prompt settlement during accidents, losses, or medical emergencies.
“We are in the business of paying claims, cracking down on fraud makes it easier to honour the genuine claims very fast. That is the commitment we are making to our clients,” she said.
The renewed anti-fraud push comes at a time when Amaco is positioning itself for a stronger comeback, marked by a significant increase in claim settlement over the past two years.
The insurer paid Sh1.2 billion in claims in 2024 and Sh2 billion in 2025, a jump Mugure says is the clearest sign of its commitment to rebuilding trust after a turbulent period.
Fraud remains one of the leading causes of financial strain in Kenyan insurance companies, particularly in motor and medical lines.
According to sector data, bogus accident reports, inflated repair bills, staged crashes, and falsified medical documentation continue to erode the profitability of insurers and lead to higher premiums for consumers.
Amaco’s multi-agency strategy is therefore part of a growing industry trend, but the company says its approach is intentionally aggressive.
With more than 90 per cent of its business coming from intermediaries, particularly independent agents Amaco argues that protecting the integrity of the claims process is essential for sustaining customer confidence and meeting its growth targets.
