• By Raymond Momanyi

Professional Insurance Agent Kenya: Why Use One?

Learn why working with a professional insurance agent in Kenya helps you compare quotations, understand cover, avoid policy gaps and receive claims support.

Why Work With a Professional Insurance Agent in Kenya?

Buying insurance is easy when nothing has gone wrong.

The real test comes after an accident, hospital admission, burglary, fire, employee injury or travel emergency. That is when policy wording, exclusions, excesses, documentation and notification deadlines suddenly matter.

A professional insurance agent helps you navigate these details before and after purchasing cover.

The agent can help identify your risks, obtain available quotations, explain the differences between policies, coordinate documents, arrange renewals and guide you during a claim.

However, not every person selling insurance online is a qualified or licensed insurance professional. Before making payment, customers should verify who they are dealing with, which insurers the intermediary represents and whether the recommended cover matches the actual risk.

This guide explains the role of a professional insurance agent in Kenya, the benefits of using one and the questions you should ask before purchasing insurance.

What Is a Professional Insurance Agent?

An insurance agent is an intermediary who solicits or arranges insurance business in return for commission and operates within the appointments and classes of business for which the agent is authorised.

An insurance agent connects the customer with the insurance company that underwrites the risk.

Depending on the agent’s appointments and capabilities, the agent may help customers:

• Understand their insurance needs
• Obtain quotations from selected insurers
• Compare premiums and benefits
• Complete proposal forms
• Submit supporting documents
• Arrange policy issuance
• Confirm policy and certificate details
• Process endorsements
• Monitor renewal dates
• Notify insurers about claims
• Follow up on claims
• Explain insurer feedback

A professional agent should provide accurate information and avoid promising benefits that are not supported by the policy.

What Is the Difference Between an Agent and an Insurer?

The insurance company is the underwriter. It accepts the risk, issues the policy, determines the final terms and assesses eligible claims.

The insurance agent is an intermediary between the customer and the insurer.

The insurer is responsible for:

• Underwriting the proposed risk
• Accepting or declining the proposal
• Setting the premium and terms
• Issuing the insurance contract
• Appointing claims service providers
• Assessing submitted claims
• Paying approved claims

The agent may assist with communication and documentation, but does not personally underwrite the risk or pay the claim.

This distinction is important. A professional agent should never claim to control an insurer’s final claim decision.

What Is the Difference Between an Insurance Agent and a Broker?

Both agents and brokers are insurance intermediaries, but their legal and business structures differ.

An insurance agent is generally appointed to solicit or arrange business for one or more insurers, subject to applicable appointments and licensing.

An insurance broker is a separately registered intermediary involved in arranging insurance business and advising clients within the broker’s authorised scope.

Customers should not rely only on the title someone uses. They should confirm the intermediary’s actual registration and licence through the Insurance Regulatory Authority.

Why Should You Work With a Professional Insurance Agent?

1. The Agent Helps Identify the Risks You Need to Insure

Customers often begin with a product instead of a risk.

A motorist may ask for comprehensive insurance without considering passenger use, regional travel or loss-of-use exposure.

A business owner may request WIBA insurance but forget:

• Public Liability
• Employers’ Liability
• Group Personal Accident
• Business Interruption
• Fire and Special Perils
• Cyber insurance
• Fidelity Guarantee

A family may request medical insurance without considering:

• Preferred hospitals
• Maternity
• Chronic conditions
• Cancer and renal limits
• Emergency evacuation
• Child-only options
• Senior-citizen requirements

A professional agent begins by understanding what could go wrong and what financial consequences the customer wants to transfer.

2. You Can Compare Available Insurance Quotations

Insurance companies do not always assess the same risk in the same way.

Premiums, excesses, benefits, limits and underwriting conditions can differ between insurers.

A professional agency with appointments from multiple insurers may help clients compare available options without contacting every company individually.

A proper comparison should examine:

• Premium
• Scope of cover
• Sum insured
• Benefit limits
• Excesses
• Exclusions
• Waiting periods
• Optional extensions
• Claims procedures
• Territorial limits
• Payment terms

The cheapest quotation is not automatically the best quotation.

Through the Imana Insurance quotation comparison platform, individuals, families and businesses can request comparisons for selected insurance products.

3. The Agent Explains Insurance Language

Insurance policies use technical words that can be confusing.

Common terms include:

• Premium
• Sum insured
• Excess
• Deductible
• Exclusion
• Extension
• Endorsement
• Waiting period
• Co-payment
• Sublimit
• Indemnity
• Underinsurance
• Average clause
• Reinstatement
• Insurable interest
• Territorial limit

Misunderstanding one term can change how a person expects the entire policy to operate.

For example:

• Comprehensive motor insurance does not cover every possible form of vehicle loss.
• Medical insurance does not mean every hospital procedure is payable.
• Travel insurance does not cover every cancellation.
• Property “All Risks” insurance still contains exclusions.
• WIBA insurance applies to specified employment-related injuries and occupational diseases; it is not automatically 24-hour Personal Accident insurance.

A professional agent should translate the wording into practical language without changing its legal meaning.

4. The Agent Helps Prevent Incorrect Disclosure

Proposal forms require accurate information.

A customer may unintentionally omit a fact because they do not understand why it matters. In other cases, someone may provide incorrect information to reduce the premium.

Material information may include:

• Existing medical conditions
• Previous claims
• Vehicle use
• Vehicle modifications
• Nature of business activities
• Property construction
• Security arrangements
• Employee occupations
• Travel destination
• Hazardous activities
• Previous policy cancellations

A professional agent can explain the questions and help ensure the information is recorded correctly.

The customer remains responsible for providing truthful and complete information. An agent cannot turn an inaccurate declaration into a valid one.

5. The Agent Helps Match the Policy to the Correct Risk

Buying the wrong policy can be almost as dangerous as having no policy.

Examples include:

• Insuring a taxi as a private vehicle
• Using private motorcycle insurance for boda boda operations
• Buying Third-Party Only insurance for a financed vehicle
• Insuring a commercial building but forgetting stock and equipment
• Buying medical insurance without checking the hospital network
• Purchasing travel insurance for the wrong destination or dates
• Arranging WIBA without declaring all employee categories
• Insuring goods without Goods in Transit or Marine Cargo protection
• Using a basic fire policy where Business Interruption is also required

A professional agent helps establish the correct class, use, period, limits and optional extensions.

6. The Agent Can Help You Avoid Underinsurance

Underinsurance occurs when an asset or risk is insured for less than its proper value.

This commonly affects:

• Motor vehicles
• Commercial buildings
• Residential buildings
• Machinery
• Equipment
• Stock
• Business interruption limits
• Marine cargo
• Professional liability limits

Where an average clause applies, underinsurance can result in a proportionately reduced claim.

A professional agent may recommend an appropriate motor, property or asset valuation and request updated values at renewal.

The final sum insured should be supported by reliable information—not chosen merely to produce a lower premium.

7. The Agent Helps Select Important Extensions

Standard insurance may not include every risk relevant to the customer.

Depending on the policy, useful extensions may include:

Motor Insurance

• Excess Protector
• Political Violence and Terrorism
• Road rescue
• Courtesy car
• Windscreen cover
• Personal Accident benefits
• COMESA Yellow Card
• Loss of use

Medical Insurance

• Outpatient benefits
• Maternity
• Dental
• Optical
• Chronic-condition cover
• Emergency evacuation
• Last-expense benefit

Business Insurance

• Business Interruption
• Political Violence and Terrorism
• Public Liability
• Employers’ Liability
• Fidelity Guarantee
• Money Insurance
• Machinery Breakdown
• Cyber insurance
• Goods in Transit

The agent should explain which extensions are included, which require additional premium and which remain unavailable.

8. The Agent Coordinates the Application Process

Insurance applications can require several documents.

For motor insurance, these may include:

• National ID or passport
• KRA PIN
• Logbook
• Vehicle valuation
• Previous policy details
• Inspection photographs
• Financier information

For medical insurance, the insurer may request:

• Identification documents
• Birth certificates
• Medical declarations
• Previous insurer information
• Medical reports
• Dependant details

For business insurance, requirements may include:

• Company registration documents
• KRA PIN
• Payroll
• Asset schedules
• Claims history
• Contracts
• Professional licences
• Financial records
• Risk-survey information

The agent helps organise and submit the necessary information but cannot guarantee that the insurer will accept an incomplete or unsuitable proposal.

9. The Agent Checks Policy Documents and Certificates

A small error on a policy can become a large problem during a claim.

A professional agent can help check:

• Names
• Identification details
• Vehicle registration numbers
• Vehicle class
• Policy period
• Sum insured
• Property location
• Benefits
• Dependants
• Territorial limits
• Extensions
• Financier’s interest
• Applicable excesses

Customers should also review the documents themselves and report errors immediately.

10. The Agent Manages Endorsements and Policy Changes

Insurance needs can change before the policy expires.

You may:

• Replace a vehicle
• Change vehicle use
• Add a dependant
• Change a business location
• Purchase new machinery
• Increase stock
• Hire more employees
• Expand into another country
• Obtain asset financing
• Change the insured name
• Increase a professional indemnity limit

These changes may require an endorsement and additional underwriting.

A professional agent helps communicate material changes to the insurer and obtain revised documentation.

Do not wait until a claim to disclose that the risk changed.

11. The Agent Helps With Renewals

Allowing a policy to expire can leave a person or business uninsured.

A professional agency maintains policy records and sends renewal reminders before expiry.

Renewal support may include:

• Reviewing claims experience
• Updating sums insured
• Rechecking vehicle values
• Revising employee payroll
• Updating family members
• Reviewing hospital-network needs
• Reassessing business activities
• Comparing fresh insurer terms
• Confirming payment
• Issuing updated documents

Renewal should not be treated as an automatic repetition of the previous year. Risks, values, rates and policy terms may have changed.

12. The Agent Supports You During a Claim

Claims are where professional insurance support becomes most visible.

After a loss, the policyholder may be dealing with injuries, police reports, damaged property, hospital admission or business interruption.

The agent may help:

• Notify the insurer
• Obtain the correct claim form
• Explain the required documents
• Coordinate inspection or assessment
• Follow up with appointed service providers
• Track outstanding requirements
• Communicate insurer feedback
• Escalate avoidable administrative delays
• Keep the claimant informed

The agent does not determine liability, calculate every settlement or force the insurer to pay an excluded claim. Those decisions remain subject to the insurer’s assessment, policy terms, evidence and applicable law.

13. The Agent Provides a Consistent Point of Contact

Customers may interact with different insurer departments during:

• Quotation
• Underwriting
• Policy issuance
• Accounts
• Medical pre-authorisation
• Claims
• Assessment
• Renewal

A professional agent provides continuity.

Instead of starting from zero whenever an issue arises, the client has an intermediary who understands the policy history and can direct the matter to the appropriate insurer contact.

14. Professional Advice Can Save Time

Comparing insurance independently can require repeated calls, forms and explanations.

A capable agency can simplify the process by:

• Collecting the relevant information once
• Approaching suitable insurers
• Organising quotations
• Highlighting material differences
• Coordinating policy documents
• Managing renewals
• Maintaining records

This is especially useful for businesses managing multiple policies, vehicles, employees or locations.

15. Professional Support May Not Increase Your Premium

Insurance agents generally receive commission from insurers according to applicable arrangements.

At Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd, quotation comparison and intermediary support are provided to customers without a separate quotation fee.

This does not mean every additional service in every insurance transaction is automatically free. Any special fee or separate service arrangement should be disclosed before the customer commits.

How to Identify a Professional Insurance Agent

A professional agent should demonstrate more than the ability to produce a quick quotation.

Look for an intermediary who:

• Can be verified through appropriate regulatory channels
• Uses a registered business name
• Has a traceable office or service location
• Uses official communication channels
• Explains benefits and exclusions
• Requests the correct documents
• Does not pressure you to hide information
• Provides formal quotations
• Gives verifiable payment instructions
• Issues receipts and policy documents
• Checks certificate details
• Maintains renewal records
• Provides claims guidance
• Avoids guaranteeing claim payment

Professionalism is visible in the process—not merely in the advertisement.

Warning Signs of an Unreliable Insurance Seller

Be cautious when someone:

• Offers a premium far below credible market rates
• Refuses to name the insurer
• Requests payment through an unexplained personal number
• Cannot provide a formal quotation
• Issues a certificate with incorrect details
• Suggests insuring a commercial vehicle as private
• Encourages you to conceal medical or claims information
• Claims that every loss will be covered
• Refuses to explain exclusions
• Disappears after receiving payment
• Cannot provide an official receipt
• Pressures you to pay before verifying the documents

A cheap certificate is worthless if it is fake, unsuitable or inactive.

Questions to Ask an Insurance Agent

Before purchasing insurance, ask:

1. Which insurer will underwrite the policy?
2. Is the insurer licensed for this class of business?
3. Which insurers were approached for quotations?
4. What exactly does the policy cover?
5. What does it exclude?
6. Which excesses apply?
7. Are there waiting periods?
8. Which limits and sublimits apply?
9. Are optional extensions included?
10. What documents are required?
11. When does cover officially begin?
12. How should payment be made?
13. When will the policy documents be issued?
14. How do I report a claim?
15. What support will the agency provide during a claim?
16. Who makes the final claim decision?
17. What must I disclose if the risk changes?
18. When will the policy expire?

A professional agent should answer clearly or obtain written clarification from the insurer.

What a Professional Insurance Agent Cannot Do

A good intermediary should also be honest about the limits of their role.

An agent cannot:

• Guarantee acceptance by an insurer
• Guarantee that every claim will be paid
• Change policy wording without insurer approval
• Ignore exclusions
• Create cover retrospectively after a loss
• Approve treatment on behalf of a medical insurer
• Determine court liability
• Hide material information
• Waive premium requirements
• Issue unauthorised certificates
• Promise benefits that do not appear in the policy

An agent can advocate for proper administration and fair consideration, but cannot convert an uncovered event into a valid claim.

Why Work With Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd?

Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd is a digital-first insurance intermediary based at Krishna Centre along Woodvale Grove in Westlands, Nairobi.

Imana helps individuals, families and businesses compare insurance quotations from selected licensed Kenyan insurers.

Services include:

• Insurance needs assessment
• Quotation comparison
• Policy explanation
• Documentation support
• Digital policy and certificate coordination
• Renewal reminders
• Portfolio reviews
• Claims notification guidance
• Claims follow-up

Customers can request quotations for:

• Private motor insurance
• Commercial motor insurance
• PSV taxi and matatu insurance
• Motorcycle insurance
• Medical insurance
• Travel insurance
• WIBA insurance
• Group Personal Accident
• Group medical insurance
• Life and last-expense insurance
• Commercial property insurance
• Professional Indemnity
• Public Liability
• Cyber insurance
• Directors and Officers Liability
• Marine insurance
• Bonds
• Other personal and corporate covers

To submit your details and compare available quotations, visit imanainsurance.com.

For insurance guides, product information and claims education, visit imana.co.ke.

For travel insurance and related solutions, visit MyKava Travel & Insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use an insurance agent instead of going directly to an insurer?

An agent may help you understand the risk, obtain available quotations, compare options, coordinate documents and receive ongoing policy and claims support. The value depends on the agent’s expertise, appointments and service.

Does an insurance agent pay claims?

No. The insurance company assesses and pays approved claims. The agent helps with notification, documentation, communication and follow-up.

Can an agent guarantee that my claim will be paid?

No. Claim payment depends on the policy, circumstances, evidence, disclosure, exclusions and insurer’s assessment.

Can an insurance agent compare several companies?

An agency appointed by multiple insurers may obtain quotations from selected insurers. Not every insurer will quote for every risk, and comparisons remain subject to agency appointments and insurer appetite.

Is the cheapest insurance quotation the best?

Not necessarily. Compare benefits, limits, excesses, exclusions, waiting periods and claims terms—not only the premium.

How do I verify an insurance agent in Kenya?

Check the current licensed-intermediary records published by the Insurance Regulatory Authority and verify the agent’s business identity and insurer appointments.

Should I pay the premium to an agent?

Use only verified payment instructions supplied through an authorised channel. Retain the payment confirmation and request an official receipt and policy documents.

What happens if the agent enters incorrect information?

Review all proposal forms, schedules and certificates immediately. Report errors in writing so that the insurer can issue a correction or endorsement where appropriate.

Can the agent help when a claim is delayed?

The agent can follow up, identify missing requirements and request status updates. The agent cannot override a legitimate investigation, exclusion or regulatory process.

Do I still need to read the policy if I use an agent?

Yes. Professional guidance is valuable, but the policyholder should understand the main benefits, limits, exclusions and obligations contained in the insurance contract.

Final Word

Insurance is more than a certificate, card or policy schedule.

It is a promise built on accurate information, appropriate protection and clear responsibilities. A professional insurance agent helps ensure that promise is properly structured before a loss tests it.

The best agent is not simply the person who finds the lowest premium. It is the professional who asks the right questions, explains what the policy does not cover, keeps accurate records and remains available when the claim begins.

Choose an intermediary who helps you understand the decision—not one who rushes you into making it.

To compare insurance quotations in Kenya, visit imanainsurance.com.

Author: Raymond Momanyi
Founder & CEO, Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd
4th Floor, Krishna Centre, Woodvale Grove, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya

Call/WhatsApp: +254 796 209 402
Email: insurance@imana.co.ke

Quotation Comparison: imanainsurance.com
Insurance Authority and Information: imana.co.ke
Travel and Insurance: mykava.co.ke

This article provides general insurance information. Policy acceptance, premiums, benefits, exclusions and claims decisions remain subject to the selected insurer’s underwriting terms and policy wording.