PIONEER Insurance, the oldest underwriter in Kenya has partnered with Gospo Insurance Agency to deepen its grassroots reach as it targets market dominance by the year 2030.

Established in 1930 as the first company to insure Africans, Pioneer Insurance offers a wide range of products, including life insurance, pensions and general, motor, and medical coverage for individuals and groups.

It has since partnered with Kenyan insurance intermediary—Gospo Insurance Agency to expand its countrywide reach, as it aims at becoming the biggest underwriter in the next five years.

Gospo, which has a huge presence in the rift region now becomes its strategic, amid growing competition in the country’s underwriting business.

Pioneer Insurance Group managing director and CEO David Ronoh said they have entered into partnership with religious organisations and intermediaries to entrench financial protection in the rural areas.

Last weekend, the firm, jointly with Gospo Insurance Agency launched the Narok and Bomet branches and consolidate presence in nearly half of the 47 counties.

The strategic partnership will now move to six other counties namely Nyamira, Kisii, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Nakuru and Kericho, before the expansion drive is rolled to the 47 counties.

This is under the last mile delivery of financial protection to villages, market centres and major towns.

The divestiture outside Nairobi, Ronoh said, is targeted to deepen expansion of its innovative product segments to Kenyans in the bottom cadre of the economic pyramid.

"We want to protect every hustle, secure their current investments and together invest in the future in fulfilment of our business promise. Your future,our commitment,” he affirmed.

The last mile delivery of financial protection to the villages, market centres and major towns across the country calls for strategic collaborations with complementary businesses such as Gospo Insurance Agency (GIA) and combines the firm’s century-old heritage with community roots, he noted.

“Investing in our people is an act of faith in them. We are divesting from Nairobi, starting with the Narok office as a hub for our South Rift operations,'' he said.

Gospo chairman Augustine Rugutt said the partnership will boost provision of premier insurance solutions to policy holders and prospective customers.

"Our partnership with Pioneer is significant because our customers’ lives matter. We want to offer insurance solutions through our trusted pillar of protection and guarantee peace of mind to customers,'' he said.

Pioneer's long standing heritage has seen the firm consolidate its market strength in the life, pension and general policy segments as well as savings and emergency solutions.

It was the first provider of policy covers to Africans and the Asian community in pre independent Kenya.