Old Mutual Partners with Stakeholders to Launch Hospital Cover for Boda Boda Riders
L-R, Kunihiko Kawano, CEO & Founder Incourage Insurance Agency, Martin Karenju, MD , Old Mutual Life Assurance Kenya, Salli Nyawira GM East Africa Rescue.co and Joseph Njuguna, MD Rafiki Microfinance Bank, during the launch of the Boda Riders Super Cover, a new solution that offers hospitalisation and last expense support to subscribers. The cover is designed to provide boda boda riders and owners with financial support during hospitalisation and in the unfortunate event of loss of life.
NAIROBI, Kenya, August 19, 2025 – Old Mutual has partnered with the Kenya Bodaboda Association (KBA), Rescue.Co, Incourage Insurance, and Rafiki Microfinance Bank to launch the Boda Riders Super Cover, a new insurance product offering cash benefits for hospitalisation and last expense support to boda boda operators.
The cover provides riders with KES 1,000 per night of hospitalisation from the third night, payable for up to 50 nights per year. In the event of death, beneficiaries will receive a KES 100,000 last expense benefit.
Speaking at the launch, Old Mutual Life Assurance Kenya Managing Director, Martin Karenju, said the product responds to the unique risks facing operators.
“Boda boda riders are the backbone of urban and rural transport. This cover ensures that when accidents happen, they are not left financially stranded, and families can access dignified support,” he said.
The initiative comes amid alarming road safety statistics. Motorcycle users accounted for 35 percent of road deaths in Kenya in 2023, while research shows road crashes cost the country between 3–5 percent of GDP annually, equivalent to KES 310 billion.
A recent study also revealed that over 1,000 individuals were hospitalised due to motorcycle crashes in an 18-month period, with many staying in hospital for more than three weeks.
KBA National Executive Chairman, Charles Gichira, welcomed the partnership, noting that it combines community networks with institutional strength to deliver affordable protection.
Under the arrangement, Old Mutual will handle underwriting and claims processing, KBA will facilitate enrolment, Rescue.Co will provide emergency coordination, while Incourage Insurance and Rafiki Microfinance Bank will support distribution and premium financing.
With over 1.6 million active riders, the boda boda sector remains a vital part of Kenya’s economy. The new cover is expected to cushion operators and their families from financial shocks arising from accidents.
