PHOTO CAPTION: TrustGro CEO, Tonderai Mutesva looks on as mTek CEO Bente during the signing of the partnership initiative with secured funding of $1.52 million (Sh 170 million) which grants Kenyan Citizens access to affordable insurance.
Fintech firm, mTek and micro financier TrustGro, Tuesday signed a $1.52 million or Sh170 million in a move that will see consumers access health insurance products that match their financial capabilities.
The agreement signed yesterday will offer flexible monthly premium payment plan in partnership with over 30 Kenyan underwriters.
“We believe in the mandate to support Kenyans to gain financial independence. We need to put a stop to the fact that most Kenyans foot their medical bills with cash. This is costly and creates cash-flow uncertainty,” said mTEK’s Chief executive Bente Krogmann during the ceremony.
Majority of Kenyan households have generally shied away from taking up healthcare and also other general insurances owing to the prohibitive high one-off cost.
“This is in keeping with our mission as TrustGro which is to help enhance the quality of life of our customers through simple, convenient and appropriate financial services” said TrustGro Chief executive Tonderai Mutesva.
Health insurance coverage is relatively low in Kenya and the concept is fairly just beginning to take shape in Africa, yet hardly well understood and remains unclear how it will function in countries where the majority of the population work outside the formal sector.
Steven Umidha is a data and financial journalist with over 14 years of work experience in journalism and communication.
He specialises in finance and economics reporting as well as on the causes, impacts, and solutions of global warming, conservation, pollution and sustainability, often blending scientific literacy with journalist ethics, while involving policy analysis and multimedia storytelling across various platforms in highlighting issues from biodiversity loss to ecological justice.
Besides being the Founder of Financial Fortune Media, Umidha has previously worked with the Standard Media Group, Mediamax Networks LTD, bird story agency, Business Journal Africa, and Financial Post among other outlets.