Author: Brian Nyabayo Ndege | Reviewer: GetCovered Kenya Editorial Team
Cannon Insurance Kenya Overview
Cannon Insurance Kenya Overview
Cannon Group, comprising Cannon General Insurance (K) Limited and Cannon Life Assurance (K) Limited, is a well-established player in the Kenyan financial landscape with a history dating back to 1967. Older consumers may remember them operating under the "Metropolitan Cannon" brand following a merger and acquisition involving South Africa's Momentum Metropolitan Holdings (MMH). However, following a local acquisition in 2022, the company successfully rebranded back to its heritage name, "Cannon."
Today, Cannon operates as a robust composite insurer with nearly 60 years of experience, specializing in providing comprehensive motor insurance, corporate life assurance, SME business solutions, and property/casualty covers.
Cannon Insurance Company Profile
Information | Details
Company | Cannon General Insurance (K) Limited / Cannon Life Assurance (K) Limited
Country | Kenya
Headquarters | Gateway Park, Block D, Mombasa Road, Nairobi
Established | 1967 (Rebranded to Cannon in 2022)
Insurance type | General and Life Insurance
IRA status | Licensed (2026)
Key products | Motor, Group Life, Personal Accident, SME Insurance
Official website | cannon.co.ke
Last verified | August 2026
Company | Cannon General Insurance (K) Limited / Cannon Life Assurance (K) Limited
Country | Kenya
Headquarters | Gateway Park, Block D, Mombasa Road, Nairobi
Established | 1967 (Rebranded to Cannon in 2022)
Insurance type | General and Life Insurance
IRA status | Licensed (2026)
Key products | Motor, Group Life, Personal Accident, SME Insurance
Official website | cannon.co.ke
Last verified | August 2026
Is Cannon Insurance Licensed in Kenya?
Yes. According to the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) 2026 gazette notice, the Cannon Group holds two operational licenses in Kenya:
- Cannon General Insurance Company Limited: Licensed as a General Insurer. Authorized to underwrite Engineering (02), Fire Domestic (03), Fire Industrial (04), Liability (05), Marine (06), Motor Private (07), Motor Commercial (08), Personal Accident (09), Theft (10), Workmen’s Compensation / WIBA (11), and Miscellaneous (14).
- Cannon Life Assurance (K) Limited: Licensed as a Long-Term (Life) Insurer. Authorized to underwrite Life Assurance (31), Group Life (34), Group Credit (35), Unit-Linked Investments (37a), and Non-Linked Investments (37b).
Important Note: Cannon is not licensed to underwrite Medical Insurance (Class 12) or Pension/Annuity businesses (Classes 32 and 33) for the 2026 period. Customers seeking health covers or retirement annuities will need to consult specialized or composite insurers licensed for those classes.
Insurance Products Offered by Cannon Insurance
Motor Insurance
Motor insurance is a cornerstone of Cannon’s business, backed by almost 60 years of underwriting experience.
- Comprehensive Cover: Protects against own vehicle damage, theft, fire, and third-party liabilities, with optional extensions for excess protectors, political violence, and windscreen replacement.
- Motor Commercial General Cartage: Specifically tailored for transport and logistics companies managing commercial fleets.
- Third-Party Only: The minimum cover required by Kenyan law.
Life Assurance
Through Cannon Life Assurance, the company offers targeted corporate and group life solutions:
- Group Life Assurance: Providing financial stability for employees' families in the event of death or critical illness.
- Group Funeral Cover: Designed to provide fast, reliable financial assistance to ease the burden of funeral costs.
- Group Credit Life: Often utilized by financial institutions to insure outstanding loan balances against the borrower's death or permanent disability.
- Keyman Insurance: Protects a business from financial loss if a crucial employee passes away or faces critical disability.
Business and SME Insurance
Cannon offers a dedicated SME Solution tailored for growing businesses. This often involves bundled protections including:
- Combined Solution Cover: Integrating Group Life, Group Personal Accident, and Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA) compliance into a single package for employers.
- Property, Liability, and Transport/Engineering coverage.
Personal Accident Insurance
Cannon provides a 24-hour Personal Accident policy covering accidental bodily injury leading to death or permanent/temporary disability. They heavily recommend adding this to their motor insurance packages, as standard motor insurance typically does not cover the driver's own physical injury.
Cannon Insurance Claims Process
To lodge a claim with Cannon Insurance, policyholders are advised to:
- Notify Cannon General Insurance or their respective broker/agent immediately following the incident.
- Fill out the specific claim form (e.g., Motor Accident, WIBA, Personal Accident) which can be requested via email or accessed through various broker portals.
- For motor claims, the standard procedure requires a police abstract, driver's license copy, and a damage assessment authorized directly by Cannon before repairs commence.
- Specific claims turnaround times and settlement ratios for 2026 are not publicly published by the company.
Cannon Insurance Customer Service
Cannon manages its operations from its Head Office at Gateway Park (Mombasa Road, Nairobi) with an additional Nairobi CBD office at Eco-Bank Towers. They also maintain regional branches in Mombasa (Cannon Building, Moi Avenue) and Kisumu.
- Customers can verify the status of their motor insurance by dialing the standard *352# AKI USSD or via the AKI Vehicle Insurance Certificate App.
- General inquiries and quote requests are handled physically at branches or via their official email (info@cannon.co.ke).
- Premium payments are modernized through specific M-PESA paybill numbers for both the General (501800) and Life (808900) divisions.
What Cannon Insurance Does Well
- Corporate & SME Integration: Their "Combined Solution Cover" elegantly bundles WIBA, Group Life, and Personal Accident, making it administratively easy for SME owners to protect their workforce.
- Long-Standing Heritage: With operations dating back to the 1960s, Cannon possesses deep institutional knowledge of the Kenyan commercial transport and group life sectors.
- Clear Licensing Boundaries: By avoiding medical underwriting, Cannon focuses purely on its core strengths in asset protection and life assurance.
Things to Consider Before Choosing Cannon Insurance
- No Medical Coverage: Because they do not hold a medical insurance license, consumers looking to bundle car, home, life, and health insurance under one group cannot do so here.
- Legacy Brand Confusion: Some consumers may still search for "Metropolitan Cannon" due to the relatively recent (2022) reversion to the original Cannon brand.
- Digital Interfaces: Compared to some newer, tech-first insurers, Cannon relies more heavily on traditional broker/agent relationships and physical or email-based claims processing.
Who May Consider Cannon Insurance?
Cannon Insurance is highly suitable for:
- SME Owners & Corporates: Seeking bundled employee benefits (Group Life, WIBA, Keyman Insurance) from a stable underwriter.
- Commercial Transporters: Logistics companies requiring robust Motor Commercial General Cartage insurance.
- Individuals: Looking for comprehensive motor insurance backed by decades of market presence.
Cannon Insurance vs Other Insurance Companies in Kenya
When evaluating Cannon against other general and life insurers, customers should weigh their long-standing expertise in group life and motor commercial transport against the absence of medical insurance offerings. While companies like Jubilee or Britam offer full-suite composite products (including medical), Cannon competes strongly on specialized corporate life solutions and SME risk bundling.
How to Get Insurance from Cannon Insurance
Customers can request quotes and purchase policies by visiting Cannon’s Head Office on Mombasa Road, their regional branches, or by engaging a licensed insurance intermediary.
GetCovered Kenya can help customers compare available insurance options, including motor, WIBA, and group life packages, and obtain quotations from participating insurers to ensure you find the most suitable coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cannon Insurance licensed in Kenya? Yes. Both Cannon General Insurance (K) Limited and Cannon Life Assurance (K) Limited are licensed by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) for 2026.
Did Metropolitan Cannon change its name?
Yes. In 2022, following a change in ownership, Metropolitan Cannon Life Assurance and Metropolitan Cannon General Insurance rebranded back to their original name: Cannon.
What insurance does Cannon offer?
Cannon offers motor insurance, property/casualty insurance, SME solutions, WIBA, personal accident, group life, and group funeral covers.
Does Cannon offer medical insurance? No. According to the 2026 IRA gazette, Cannon is not licensed to underwrite medical insurance (Class 12) in Kenya.
How do I pay for my Cannon Insurance policy?
Cannon accepts payments via M-PESA. The paybill number for General Insurance is 501800, and for Life Assurance, it is 808900. Payments can also be made directly to their NCBA bank accounts.
Where is Cannon Insurance located in Kenya?
The Head Office is located at Gateway Park, Block D, Mombasa Road, Nairobi. They also have offices in the Nairobi CBD, Mombasa, and Kisumu.