Bima Mashinani campaign hits Kakamega as IRA seeks to grow insurance culture
Following minimal investment in insurance matters, Kakamega County has been identified as one of the key regions the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) will sensitise on insurance uptake.
The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) has pitched camp in the county, holding workshops with various stakeholders, including the media (March 24), boda boda operators and owners (March 25), National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) on March 26, and later matatu operators on march 27.
During these sessions, the regulator will highlight the importance of insuring properties and lives against eventualities through the Bima Mashinani initiative.
Alreday, the regulator held a session with 100 riders and owners, training them on road safety, insurance uptake, and the need to protect their livelihoods through insurance policies.
IRA facilitators observed that through these workshops, they expect to reach many people within the region and convince them to insure their properties and themselves.
Earlier, the authority held a training session with Kakamega journalists and business reporters under the guidance of IRA Director Immaculate Shamala and her team.
They deliberated on how best the media can inform, inspire, and empower communities through positive and impactful storytelling.
The Bima Mashinani Kakamega chapter was officially launched by IRA Board Member Immaculate Shamala, Director of Corporate Services Esther Musyoki, and Deputy Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations Joanne Wanjala.
Shamala highlighted the powerful role the media plays in shaping public perception, noting that the information relayed to the public greatly determines how people understand and assess insurance-related issues.
According to Deputy Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations Joanne Wanjala, the four-day Bima Mashinani programme will bring together various stakeholders through intensive engagement aimed not only at deepening understanding of trends in the insurance industry but also at attracting more people to take up insurance policies, while demystifying the long-held perception that insurers are untrustworthy.
She stated that the media training will give business reporters an opportunity to learn more about the essentials of insurance, thereby strengthening accurate and effective reporting on the sector.
Director of Corporate Services (DCS) Esther Musyoki, while addressing the media on fair reporting of insurance matters, applauded the role the sector plays in informing and educating the public on various insurance issues in the country.
IRA Board Member Immaculate Shamala assured the public of the Authority’s commitment to its core mandate of regulating, supervising, and developing the insurance industry.
She noted that the Authority has already placed three insurers, Corporate Insurance, KUSCCO Assurance, and Trident Insurance, under statutory management.
She called on the public to take advantage of the Bima Mashinani initiative and enrol in insurance policies, stressing the importance of the sugar belt region improving its investment in insurance.
She added that such trainings will ensure accurate reporting, covering the performance of the industry, the Insurance Act, fraud detection, and consumer protection.
Shamala further noted that the training will equip journalists with accurate information on insurance, improving their ability to pitch and report stories effectively.
During the training, it was revealed that most insurance consumers do not read or fully understand their policy schedules, yet these documents are critical as the fallback plan of the entire policy.
“Insurance is not an open cheque and only pays approved claims,” the participants were told.
