Britam Connect has introduced a new medical insurance cover targeting domestic and informal workers, seeking to improve access to affordable healthcare for a segment of Kenya’s workforce that has traditionally had limited insurance protection.
Dubbed Bima ya Wafanyikazi, the cover starts from Sh336 per month and offers inpatient, outpatient, maternity, dental, optical and last expense benefits. It is underwritten by Britam and distributed through Minet Kenya Insurance Brokers.
The product is available to individual domestic workers, employers and registered worker associations, broadening access to medical insurance for workers who often lack formal employment benefits.
The launch comes as insurers increasingly develop products tailored to Kenya’s informal sector, which accounts for the majority of the country’s workforce but remains largely underserved by conventional insurance products.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 90 per cent of domestic workers in Kenya do not have medical insurance. Many are employed under informal or semi-formal arrangements without written contracts, leaving them vulnerable to financial hardship when faced with illness or medical emergencies.
Domestic and informal workers play a critical role in the economy, providing services such as childcare, elderly care, housekeeping, security and support in health facilities and other institutions.
Speaking during the launch, Britam Connect Chief Executive Officer and Principal Officer Evah Kimani said the new product was designed to address the everyday healthcare challenges faced by workers in the informal economy.
“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,” she said.
Kimani said the cover combines outpatient and inpatient care with maternity, dental, optical and annual health check-up benefits to encourage early treatment while protecting families from unexpected medical expenses.
Minet Kenya Chief Executive Officer Sammy Muthui said the insurer and broker developed the product after identifying a significant gap in healthcare protection for informal workers.
“We spent 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,” Muthui said.
He noted that the partnership brings together Britam Connect’s expertise in inclusive insurance and Minet’s distribution network to make the cover more accessible to workers across the country.
The launch reflects a growing push within Kenya’s insurance industry to develop affordable products for low-income earners and informal workers, many of whom remain excluded from traditional insurance despite making up a significant share of the country’s labour force.
By lowering the cost of entry, Britam hopes the new cover will help more domestic and informal workers access healthcare without facing severe financial strain, while supporting broader efforts to expand insurance inclusion across the country.
