AAR Insurance has brought together industry leaders, partners, and stakeholders from across the sales ecosystem for its annual International Sales Conference, as the insurer seeks to deepen market penetration in a sector where insurance uptake in Kenya remains below 3 per cent.
Held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, the two-day 2026 edition runs under the theme “Code of Trust: Driving Growth through Resilience, Technology and Compliance.” The forum is focusing on governance, data protection, and ethical business practices as key enablers of sustainable growth in the insurance industry.
The conference has convened financial regulators, technology innovators, and intermediaries to explore how digital transformation, cybersecurity, and resilient systems can strengthen service delivery across medical, motor, home, travel, and commercial insurance lines.
AAR Insurance Chief Executive Officer and Principal Officer Justine Kosgei said the industry must evolve beyond traditional models to close the protection gap and build lasting consumer trust.
“We must fundamentally shift our approach from reactive care to proactive wellness. With non-communicable diseases now responsible for 39 per cent of all deaths in Kenya, we can no longer be an industry that only provides support when someone falls ill,” Kosgei said. “Through our partnerships and integrated wellness programmes, we work with our clients to proactively manage their physical and mental health from day one.”
A key focus of the conference is the protection of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which remain the backbone of Kenya’s economy but continue to face significant exposure to risks such as supply chain disruptions, property damage, and liability challenges, while remaining largely underinsured.
AAR Insurance Group Head of Distribution James Kamau noted that addressing affordability and cash-flow constraints is critical to closing this gap.
“We understand the cash flow challenges that modern businesses face. To address this, we have partnered with financial institutions such as NCBA and Fincredit to help SMEs build stronger protection frameworks,” Kamau said. “By integrating Insurance Premium Financing at the point of sale, we remove the upfront affordability barrier to comprehensive coverage. Our goal is to ensure pricing never stands in the way of a well-protected business.”
The insurer also urged intermediaries to leverage regulatory compliance as a strategic advantage in an increasingly digital market. Kosgei highlighted AAR Insurance’s recent recognition at the National Data Privacy Conference, where it secured three awards, including the Data Protection Compliance Award, the Data Protection Complaints Handling Award, and the Data Protection Awareness Initiative Award.
He said the recognition underscores the importance of embedding data security into customer engagement as a tool for strengthening trust and confidence.
As digital disruption continues to reshape the financial services landscape, the conference seeks to set a new benchmark for the industry by aligning technology adoption, proactive risk advisory, and strong compliance frameworks to support the health, wealth, and resilience of Kenyan consumers and businesses.
