Marine Cargo Insurance in Kenya

Marine cargo insurance pays for loss of or damage to goods while they are shipped by sea, air, road or rail, usually from the supplier's warehouse to yours. In Kenya it is compulsory for imports: the cover must come from a Kenyan-licensed insurer, and since 1 July 2026 a digital certificate must reach KRA before the goods are cleared.

Yes, for imports. The Marine Insurance Act (s.16A) and the Insurance Act (ss.2 and 20) require marine cargo cover on goods imported into Kenya to be placed with a Kenyan-licensed insurer, unless the Commissioner of Insurance grants an exemption. Personal effects of returning residents are excluded. Exports are not caught by the rule.

Insurers do not publish rates, but market estimates put most import cargo at about 0.15% to 0.6% of the insured value, with minimum premiums of about KES 2,500 to 5,000 a shipment. On goods worth KES 2 million that is roughly KES 3,600 to 14,500 before levies. Fragile, high-theft or used goods cost more.

Choose ICC (A) for most goods, especially anything fragile, valuable or easy to steal: it covers all risks except the listed exclusions, including theft and handling damage. ICC (B) and (C) cover named events only and suit robust bulk goods where theft and breakage are unlikely. The price gap is often smaller than the gap in cover.

Register your Import Declaration Form first. Then ask a Kenyan insurer, an agency such as Naveah, your clearing agent's platform or the eCitizen insurance portal for cover against that IDF, pay, and the certificate goes electronically to KRA's customs system. Once it shows there, your goods can be cleared.

Yes. A foreign policy arranged by your supplier does not meet the Kenyan rule, and customs will look for a local digital certificate. To avoid paying twice, ask the supplier to quote CFR (cost and freight) and buy the cover in Kenya.

Marine cargo covers imports and exports by sea or air, with the road or rail legs that connect them, and is compulsory for imports. Goods in transit covers your stock moving by road or rail within Kenya and the region. Many importers need both: marine cargo to their warehouse, then goods in transit for distribution.

No notice issued so far applies it to exports. The Insurance Act names imports only, and the digital certificate is enforced through import declarations. Exporters who sell on CIF or CIP terms still need cargo cover, and can buy it from a Kenyan insurer by choice.

All three clauses exclude:

• Wilful misconduct by you
• Ordinary leakage, loss of weight or volume, and wear and tear
• Poor or insufficient packing
• Inherent vice: damage caused by the nature of the goods
• Delay, even if caused by an insured event
• Insolvency or financial default of the ship's owners or operators
• Nuclear risks
• Unseaworthiness you knew about when the goods were loaded
• War, strikes, riots and terrorism, unless the war and strikes clauses are added

ICC (B) and (C) also leave out anything that is not on their list of named events, such as theft and rough handling.

From any Kenyan-licensed general insurer that writes marine cover, through an IRA-licensed insurance agency such as Naveah, through your clearing agent's platform, or on the eCitizen insurance portal. All of them must issue the same digital certificate against your IDF.

A portal sells you a certificate; we compare insurers for the right cover level, check the value and terms, and help you if you ever need to claim. Our service is free to you: the insurer pays our commission, and the premium is the insurer's own rate.

Usually the same working day once we have your IDF, invoice and shipping details. Send them by WhatsApp or the form on this page and Farzana's team will reply within the hour in office hours.