Takaful Insurance Review in Kenya
If you are looking for Takaful Insurance in Kenya, you may be wondering how Takaful Insurance of Africa works, what products it offers, how its Shariah-compliant model differs from conventional insurance, and whether its cover is suitable for your needs.
Takaful Insurance of Africa (TIA) is a Kenyan insurance provider that operates using the Takaful model, which is based on principles of mutual cooperation and Shariah-compliant risk management. The company says it was founded in 2008 and licensed in 2011 as East and Central Africa's first fully fledged Takaful operator.
This review looks at Takaful Insurance in Kenya from a consumer perspective — its products, how Takaful works, the types of cover available, what to check before buying a policy, and how you can compare insurance options before making a decision.
Important: Insurance products, terms, premiums, exclusions and availability can change. Always review the actual policy wording and quotation before purchasing.
Quick Review: Takaful Insurance of Africa
FeatureDetailsCompany | Takaful Insurance of Africa
Market | Kenya
Founded | 2008
Licensed | 2011, according to TIA
Model | Shariah-compliant Takaful
Regulation | Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA)
Main categories | Motor, medical, property, travel, marine, liability and other general insurance
Motor cover | Third-party, third-party fire & theft and comprehensive options
Quote | Premium depends on the risk and selected cover
Online services | Online quotation/purchase options are advertised by TIA
Head office | Upper Hill, Nairobi
Market | Kenya
Founded | 2008
Licensed | 2011, according to TIA
Model | Shariah-compliant Takaful
Regulation | Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA)
Main categories | Motor, medical, property, travel, marine, liability and other general insurance
Motor cover | Third-party, third-party fire & theft and comprehensive options
Quote | Premium depends on the risk and selected cover
Online services | Online quotation/purchase options are advertised by TIA
Head office | Upper Hill, Nairobi
TIA is listed by Kenya's Insurance Regulatory Authority among licensed general insurance companies. The IRA's published 2025 licensed-insurer list includes Takaful Insurance of Africa Limited and lists multiple authorised classes of general insurance business.
What Is Takaful Insurance?
Takaful is a form of insurance based on mutual cooperation and shared responsibility.
Rather than structuring insurance purely around the conventional transfer of risk from the policyholder to an insurer, Takaful uses a system in which participants contribute to a common pool that is used to meet eligible losses.
The model is designed to avoid principles prohibited under Islamic finance, including:
- Riba — interest
- Gharar — excessive uncertainty
- Maysir — gambling/speculation
TIA describes its model as Shariah-compliant and says its operations are overseen by a Shariah Supervisory Council in addition to statutory regulatory requirements.
This makes Takaful particularly relevant to customers who want their insurance arrangements to comply with Islamic financial principles.
Who Is Takaful Insurance of Africa?
Takaful Insurance of Africa is a Kenyan insurance company specialising in Takaful-based risk management.
According to the company's own history, it was founded in 2008 and licensed in 2011. It describes itself as the first fully fledged Takaful operator in East and Central Africa.
The company provides insurance products for individuals, families, businesses and organisations.
Its current product offering includes areas such as:
- Motor Takaful
- Medical/Afya Takaful
- Fire and property
- Domestic package
- Professional indemnity
- Marine and transit
- Travel
- Personal accident
- Other commercial insurance solutions
Its website also provides online quote and purchase functionality.
Takaful Insurance Products in Kenya
1. Motor Takaful
Motor insurance is one of the most important products for Kenyan motorists.
TIA advertises motor protection ranging from third-party insurance to comprehensive cover, including protection against risks such as vehicle accidents, fire and theft.
Depending on the policy, motorists may need to consider:
- Third-party liability
- Fire
- Theft
- Accidental damage
- Windscreen protection
- Excess
- Roadside assistance
- Approved repair garages
- Additional benefits
- Policy exclusions
Looking for a Takaful car insurance quote?
Instead of looking only at the premium, compare the coverage, excess, exclusions, benefits and claims arrangements attached to the quotation.
2. Afya Takaful
Afya Takaful provides medical protection structured around the Takaful model.
TIA describes the product as medical coverage for organisations and other eligible customers, with protection for healthcare expenses associated with illness and injury.
When considering medical insurance, look beyond the headline premium.
Check:
- Inpatient limits
- Outpatient limits
- Maternity benefits
- Dental and optical benefits
- Pre-existing condition rules
- Waiting periods
- Hospital network
- Chronic illness benefits
- Emergency treatment
- Exclusions
3. Fire and Property Takaful
Property owners and businesses can use Takaful protection for property-related risks.
TIA lists protection against risks including:
- Fire
- Lightning
- Explosion
- Floods
- Other allied perils
The exact protection depends on the policy and selected benefits.
4. Domestic Package Takaful
Domestic Package Takaful is designed to combine protection for your home and household belongings.
The product can cover areas such as:
- Buildings
- Furniture
- Electronics
- Appliances
- Personal belongings
- Household items
TIA states that the cover can protect household contents against risks including theft, fire and accidental damage, subject to the policy terms.
5. Travel Takaful
Travel Takaful provides insurance protection for travellers.
TIA specifically promotes travel protection for Hajj and Umrah, making this particularly relevant to Muslim travellers.
Depending on the policy, travellers should examine:
- Medical expenses
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Repatriation
- Baggage
- Travel delays
- Personal liability
- Destination restrictions
- Trip cancellation/interruption
For international travel, always check whether the policy meets the requirements of your destination and visa application.
6. Professional Indemnity
Professional Indemnity Takaful is designed for professionals who could face claims arising from negligence, errors or professional services.
This can be relevant to professions such as:
- Doctors
- Consultants
- Accountants
- Engineers
- Other professional service providers
The actual protection depends on the policy wording, limits and exclusions.
7. Marine and Transit Takaful
Businesses transporting goods can also obtain protection for cargo and goods in transit.
TIA lists Marine & Transit Takaful for goods transported by:
- Road
- Rail
- Air
- Sea
This can be relevant for importers, exporters, distributors and logistics companies.
Is Takaful Insurance Shariah-Compliant?
This is one of the most important questions for customers considering Takaful.
TIA states that its operations are based on Shariah principles and that it has a Shariah Supervisory Council. The company describes its model as involving mutual cooperation, shared responsibility and Shariah-compliant risk management.
The key difference is therefore not simply the word "Takaful" in the product name.
A consumer interested in Shariah compliance should examine:
- How participant contributions are structured.
- How the risk pool operates.
- How funds are invested.
- How the operator is compensated.
- How underwriting surplus is treated.
- What Shariah governance arrangements exist.
This is more meaningful than assuming that every product carrying an Islamic-finance label automatically operates identically.
Takaful vs Conventional Insurance in Kenya
FeatureTakafulConventional InsuranceBasic concept | Mutual risk sharing | Risk transfer
Participant contributions | Paid into a Takaful structure/pool | Premium paid to insurer
Shariah principles | Designed to comply with Shariah principles | Not specifically structured around Shariah law
Interest | Designed to avoid riba | Conventional investment structures may involve interest-bearing assets
Risk | Shared among participants | Transferred to insurer
Surplus | May be distributed according to the Takaful structure | Generally belongs to the insurer/shareholders
Religious governance | Shariah supervision | No Shariah supervisory requirement
Regulation | Subject to Kenyan insurance regulation | Subject to Kenyan insurance regulation
Participant contributions | Paid into a Takaful structure/pool | Premium paid to insurer
Shariah principles | Designed to comply with Shariah principles | Not specifically structured around Shariah law
Interest | Designed to avoid riba | Conventional investment structures may involve interest-bearing assets
Risk | Shared among participants | Transferred to insurer
Surplus | May be distributed according to the Takaful structure | Generally belongs to the insurer/shareholders
Religious governance | Shariah supervision | No Shariah supervisory requirement
Regulation | Subject to Kenyan insurance regulation | Subject to Kenyan insurance regulation
The distinction is therefore structural, rather than simply a marketing difference.
Is Takaful Insurance Licensed in Kenya?
Yes. Takaful Insurance of Africa appears on the Insurance Regulatory Authority's published list of licensed insurers. The IRA's 2025 list identifies Takaful Insurance of Africa Limited among licensed general insurance companies and specifies authorised classes of business.
This is an important distinction when researching insurance providers online.
Before buying insurance from any company, consumers should verify the provider's regulatory status through the relevant Kenyan regulator.
Takaful Insurance Claims
A major part of any insurance review should be the claims process.
The most important question isn't simply:
"How much does the insurance cost?"
It is:
"What happens when I need to make a claim?"
Before purchasing Takaful cover, check:
- How to report a claim
- Required documentation
- Claim notification deadlines
- Assessment process
- Approved repairers
- Excess payable
- Claim exclusions
- Settlement process
- Contact channels
- Expected documentation
TIA provides claims-related services through its customer channels and publishes information about its claims operations.
For your GetCovered article, I would not claim that Takaful has faster or better claims settlement unless you have independently verified current claims data.
That distinction will strengthen the E-E-A-T of the page.
How Much Does Takaful Insurance Cost in Kenya?
There is no single Takaful insurance price.
Your premium depends on factors such as:
Motor insurance
- Vehicle value
- Vehicle type
- Vehicle use
- Driver information
- Location
- Previous claims
- Type of cover
- Optional benefits
- Excess
Medical insurance
- Number of members
- Ages
- Benefit limits
- Inpatient/outpatient benefits
- Medical history and underwriting factors
- Selected benefits
Property insurance
- Property value
- Contents value
- Location
- Construction
- Occupancy
- Selected risks
- Security measures
Therefore, it is better to compare actual quotations and policy benefits rather than relying on a generic "Takaful insurance price" published online.
What Should You Check Before Buying Takaful Insurance?
Before accepting a quotation, check these areas carefully.
1. Coverage
Understand exactly what is insured.
2. Exclusions
An inexpensive policy may have significant exclusions.
3. Excess
Find out how much you will contribute when making a claim.
4. Limits
Check maximum amounts payable for each benefit.
5. Claims process
Understand what happens after an insured event.
6. Approved providers
For motor and medical insurance, check garages, hospitals and other approved service providers.
7. Policy wording
Do not rely solely on advertisements or a salesperson's explanation.
8. Price
Compare premiums only after comparing equivalent coverage.
How to Compare Takaful Insurance Quotes in Kenya
This is where I would connect the article strongly to GetCovered Kenya.
Instead of asking only:
"Which insurance company is cheapest?"
ask:
"What am I getting for the premium I am paying?"
When comparing quotations, look at:
FactorWhat to comparePremium | Total amount payable
Cover | Risks included
Limits | Maximum claim amounts
Excess | Your contribution after a claim
Exclusions | What isn't covered
Benefits | Additional services
Claims | Process and requirements
Network | Garages/hospitals/providers
Payment | Available payment options
Documentation | Policy/certificate delivery
Cover | Risks included
Limits | Maximum claim amounts
Excess | Your contribution after a claim
Exclusions | What isn't covered
Benefits | Additional services
Claims | Process and requirements
Network | Garages/hospitals/providers
Payment | Available payment options
Documentation | Policy/certificate delivery
GetCovered Kenya can be positioned here as a comparison platform rather than telling the reader which insurer to choose.
Takaful Insurance: Pros and Considerations
Rather than using a simplistic "pros and cons" section, I would use "What to Consider", because that sounds much more objective for an insurance comparison website.
What may appeal to customers
- Shariah-compliant insurance structure
- Mutual risk-sharing principles
- Dedicated Takaful products
- Motor and general insurance options
- Medical insurance options
- Travel products
- Property protection
- Business insurance solutions
What customers should investigate
- Premium compared with equivalent conventional quotations
- Policy exclusions
- Excess amounts
- Benefit limits
- Claims procedures
- Service-provider networks
- Specific policy terms
- Availability of the particular cover required
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Takaful Insurance available in Kenya?
Yes. Takaful Insurance of Africa operates in Kenya and is listed among licensed insurers by the Insurance Regulatory Authority.
Is Takaful Insurance Shariah-compliant?
Takaful Insurance of Africa states that it operates according to Shariah principles and has a Shariah Supervisory Council overseeing compliance.
What types of Takaful insurance are available in Kenya?
Products include motor, medical, property, domestic package, travel, professional indemnity, marine and transit and other general insurance products.
Does Takaful offer car insurance in Kenya?
Yes. Takaful Insurance of Africa offers Motor Takaful, including third-party and comprehensive options.
Can non-Muslims buy Takaful insurance?
Takaful products are based on Islamic insurance principles, but eligibility depends on the specific product and provider. TIA describes its Afya Takaful product as open to organisations and individuals from all backgrounds.
Is Takaful cheaper than conventional insurance?
Not necessarily. Insurance premiums depend on the risk, coverage, limits, exclusions and other underwriting factors. The appropriate comparison is between quotations offering substantially equivalent coverage.
How do I get a Takaful insurance quote in Kenya?
You can request a quotation directly from Takaful Insurance of Africa or compare available insurance options through an insurance comparison platform such as GetCovered Kenya.
Final Thoughts on Takaful Insurance in Kenya
Takaful Insurance of Africa provides an alternative insurance structure for customers who want Shariah-compliant risk protection in Kenya.
Its offering extends beyond motor insurance to medical, property, travel, marine, professional indemnity and other insurance products. The company is listed by Kenya's Insurance Regulatory Authority as a licensed general insurer.
However, choosing insurance should not be based on the company name or premium alone.
Before purchasing, compare the coverage, exclusions, limits, excess, benefits, claims process and total cost of the available options.
If you are looking for Takaful insurance in Kenya, GetCovered Kenya can help you compare available insurance options and request quotations based on the type of cover you need.