What You Need to Know
The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) has launched its Bima Mashinani initiative in Kisii, focusing on enhancing public understanding of insurance. The four-day program engaged over 320 participants from various sectors, emphasizing the importance of insurance in safeguarding livelihoods and promoting consumer protection. The initiative aims to make insurance more accessible and relevant to the
Africa-Press – Kenya. IRA photo moment with boda boda operators and owners after the training at Agricultural Training Centre in Kisii/courtesy
The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) has taken its Bima Mashinani initiative to Kisii county delivering a four-day grassroots engagement programme focused on strengthening public understanding of insurance and enhancing consumer protection.
Held at the Agricultural Training Centre in Kisii between April 20 to 23, the forum brought together more than 320 participants drawn from different interest groups, including journalists, teachers, traders, farmers, matatu and boda boda operators and owners, co-operative societies, women and youth groups, as well as Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The Forum provided an interactive platform for participants to engage with the regulator and gain practical insights on the role of insurance in safeguarding livelihoods, with the main purpose of the forum being to enhance insurance awareness to the grassroots and improve access in the long run.
The programme was officially opened by IRA Deputy Director, Corporate Communications and Public Relations Joanne Wanjala, who led the authority’s delegation alongside senior management and technical facilitators from the authority.
In her opening remarks during the Kisii forum, Ms. Wanjala underscored the importance of building public confidence in insurance through awareness and transparent communication, noting that informed consumers are better equipped to make decisions that safeguard their livelihoods.
“The Authority has adopted a deliberate multi-stakeholder approach to insurance awareness through these targeted forums. As a regulator, we remain committed to promoting the growth of this industry through such programmes,” she added.
She urged participants to embrace insurance as a critical tool for ensuring adequate care and protection in case of uncertainty.
“We aim to provoke thought and help people understand that insurance is no longer an option; it is a need that offers protection, care and peace of mind in difficult times,” she said.
Subsequent sessions under the Bima Mashinani programme in Kisii adopted a sector-based approach, allowing participants to engage on issues directly linked to their economic activities. Participants were taken through the Authority’s mandate and functions, the state of the insurance industry and key insurance products and benefits.
Boda boda operators and owners participated in a tailored forum focusing on road safety, insurance uptake and income protection, with 100 riders taking part in the engagement.
Boda boda operators and owners were urged to fully understand their obligations when taking up insurance in order to benefit from the policies.
Similar engagements of Bima Mashinani sensitisation forums have happened in the recent past in Kakamega, Laikipia and Trans Nzioia counties.
The forums mark another step in the authority’s efforts to ensure that insurance remains a practical and accessible tool for financial protection and economic resilience among Kenyans.
The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) of Kenya has been actively working to improve insurance awareness among the public. Initiatives like Bima Mashinani are part of a broader strategy to engage communities and educate them on the benefits of insurance. This approach aims to build trust in the insurance sector and ensure that more Kenyans can access essential financial protection services. Historically, insurance uptake in Kenya has been low, often due to a lack of understanding and awareness of its benefits. By targeting grassroots communities, the IRA seeks to change perceptions and encourage more individuals to consider insurance as a vital part of their financial planning.
