For many Kenyans, a medical emergency or the death of a loved one can wipe out months of savings in a matter of days. While insurance has often been viewed as expensive or complicated, a new mobile-based cover aims to lower the barrier by allowing customers to sign up from as little as Ksh60 per week.
The product, known as Tuunza Mapato, is available through the M-Pesa ecosystem and combines hospital cash and funeral benefits into a single package that customers can manage directly from their phones.
Customers who subscribe receive hospital cash cover of up to Ksh30,000 and funeral cover of up to Ksh100,000, depending on the policy terms.
Unlike many short-term insurance products that require users to remember to renew their cover every week or month, Tuunza Mapato uses M-Ratiba, which automatically deducts weekly premiums once a customer has opted in. This means customers do not have to manually repurchase the cover every week, helping reduce the chances of their policy lapsing due to missed payments.
The automatic deduction model is designed to keep insurance active as long as there are sufficient funds in the customer's M-Pesa wallet.
If a scheduled weekly deduction fails because of insufficient funds, the customer receives a notification alerting them to top up their wallet. Once enough money is available, the weekly premium can be deducted, helping restore continuous cover without requiring a fresh purchase process.
The product is positioned as an option for customers looking for affordable financial protection against unexpected events that could disrupt household income or create sudden expenses.
How customers can sign up
The service is available within the Safaricom My OneApp through the following path:
My OneApp → Do More With M-Pesa → Insure and Protect → Tuunza Mapato.
Customers select their preferred cover, starting from Ksh60 per week, complete the purchase process and authorize recurring payments through M-Ratiba. Once activated, premiums are deducted automatically every week.
The platform also sends reminders to customers who begin the sign-up process but do not complete their purchase, encouraging them to finish the registration.
Existing customers are also notified if a scheduled premium deduction fails, allowing them to add funds before their insurance cover is interrupted.
Why it matters
Insurance penetration in Kenya has remained relatively low despite growing awareness of the financial risks associated with illness, accidents and bereavement. Cost, irregular incomes and the inconvenience of maintaining active policies have often been cited as barriers to uptake.
By combining low weekly premiums with automatic deductions through M-Pesa, Tuunza Mapato targets customers who may prefer making smaller, regular payments instead of committing to larger annual premiums.
The product also leverages M-Pesa's widespread adoption, allowing customers to access insurance services without visiting a branch or filling out extensive paperwork.
For many households, hospital bills and funeral expenses rank among the largest unexpected financial shocks. A cover that starts from Ksh60 per week offers an alternative for customers seeking basic financial protection while using a payment platform they already rely on for everyday transactions.
The success of the product is likely to depend on customer awareness, consistent premium payments and a clear understanding of the policy's terms and conditions, including eligibility requirements, waiting periods and claims procedures.