The Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI), in collaboration with the Traffic Police department, the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) and the Insurance Fraud Investigation Unit, has intensified enforcement operations targeting fraudulent motor insurance certificates.
The crackdown has uncovered 44 cases across two regions over the past year.
The operations come despite AKI’s introduction of digitised motor insurance certificates, which were designed to digitise and ease access to insurance services.
AKI said that although digitisation has strengthened verification, cases of forgery continue to be reported in various regions of the country. The association emphasised that forgery of motor insurance certificates is a criminal offence punishable by law.
In June last year, an operation conducted in the Central region led to the discovery of 27 cases of forged motor insurance certificates. The operation was led by Commissioner of Police Anthony Muriithi.
Four of the cases have since been concluded. Offenders were fined between Sh15,000 and Sh30,000 or sentenced to prison terms ranging from four months to one year. The remaining cases are still pending before the courts.
A subsequent enforcement operation carried out in December in the Coast region identified 17 additional cases of forged certificates.
Three of those cases have been finalised.
In one instance, the offender was fined Sh200,000 or sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. Two other offenders were fined Sh50,000 or given six months’ imprisonment.
AKI warned that the persistence of fraudulent motor insurance covers presents serious risks to both motorists and the insurance sector.
“Digitisation has significantly strengthened verification, but enforcement remains critical. Fraudulent motor insurance certificates offer no protection to motorists and undermine public confidence in the sector. We will continue working closely with law enforcement officers to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of the insurance industry,” said AKI Executive Director Tom Gichuhi.
The association noted that fake motor insurance certificates expose unsuspecting motorists to financial losses, particularly in the event of accidents or claims.
It also pointed to reputational risks for the industry, saying fraud undermines trust and confidence in insurance services.
AKI said joint operations will continue in other regions as part of broader industry efforts to strengthen compliance and enhance consumer protection.
The association urged motorists to verify the authenticity of their motor insurance certificates using the USSD code *352# or through the Bima Yangu App, both developed by AKI.
Motorists were also advised to avoid purchasing insurance cover from unauthorised agents and brokers.
AKI said the continued enforcement drive is aimed at ensuring that the benefits of digitisation translate into real protection for policyholders while safeguarding the integrity of the insurance industry.
The Association of Kenya Insurers is the advocacy and umbrella body for all insurance companies in Kenya. It is mandated to lobby on behalf of its members, raise awareness about insurance, conduct market research and build industry capacity. AKI currently has 56 members and five associate members.
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