Britam's Sh336 a month medical cover targets domestic workers
From left: Tom Odero, Secretary General, Banking, Insurance and Finance Union (Kenya), Evah Kimani, CEO and Principal Officer, Britam Connect, Gideon Bii, Deputy Director, Commercials, Minet Kenya Insurance Brokers and Tom Gitogo, Group Managing Director and CEO, Britam, during the launch of Bima ya Wafanyikazi, a comprehensive medical insurance solution for domestic and informal workers, at Britam Tower in Nairobi.
Britam Connect has unveiled Bima ya Wafanyikazi, a medical insurance offering that seeks to provide a range of benefits to a workforce that has long been sidelined by mainstream products.
In a market update on Wednesday, Britam said the product will expand access to quality healthcare for domestic and informal workers including inpatient, outpatient, dental, optical and last expense services.
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From as little as Sh336 a month, the cover, which is underwritten by Britam and distributed by Minet Kenya Insurance Brokers is available to individual domestic workers, employers and registered worker associations.
The insurer said Britam Connect is poised to widen access to healthcare protection for a market segment that has traditionally had limited access to insurance.
From caring for children and older persons, to cleaning homes, preparing meals, providing security and supporting hospitals and other community institutions, domestic and informal workers keep households, organizations and essential services running every day.
The domestic sector is one of the country's largest sources of employment outside agriculture and small-scale trade. Yet over 90 percent of domestic workers lack any form of medical protection, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO).
No written contracts
Many also work in informal or semi-formal arrangements, often without written contracts or adequate financial protection, leaving them particularly vulnerable when illness or medical emergencies strike.
Britam Connect CEO and Principal Officer Evah Kimani said the launch reflects the company's commitment to designing insurance solutions around the everyday realities of underserved communities.
“For many domestic and informal workers, there is very little room for life's disruptions. An illness,injury or even a few days away from work can quickly place pressure on household finances. Bima Ya Wafanyikazi is anchored on holistic healthcare, bringing together outpatient and inpatient care, maternity, dental and optical benefits, as well as annual health check-ups, so workers can seek care earlier, stay healthier and face fewer financial shocks when illness strikes,” she said.
Minet Kenya CEO Sammy Muthui said the partnership combines Minet's distribution capability with Britam Connect's expertise in inclusive insurance to deliver a solution that addresses a genuine market need.
“Insurance should solve real problems. We spent a great deal of time listening to our customers and understanding their evolving needs. One message came through clearly: there is a significant gap in healthcare protection for Kenya's informal workforce, and it is a gap that demands innovative solutions.
Together with Britam, we have combined our strengths to create a solution that will make a meaningful difference for thousands of Kenyan workers and their families,” he said.
The launch builds on Britam Connect's leadership in inclusive insurance by developing solutions that help improve access to healthcare, promote decent work and reduce inequalities by making medical cover available to people who have traditionally been excluded.
