The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) has issued a directive stating that all importers shall be required to digitally place marine cargo insurance cover for their imports with domestic insurers via a digital platform, prior to obtaining customs clearance.
The directive, titled “Enforcement of Local Marine Cargo Insurance Cover for All Imports”, enters into effect on 1 July 2026.
The National Treasury guided the IRA to work together with the Kenya Revenue Authority and the telecom company Safaricom to develop a digital platform that will integrate directly into the Kenya Revenue Authority’s Integrated Customs Management System (ICMS).
A Digital Marine Cargo Insurance Certificate request is tol be made through portals connected to the IRA electronic platform and the eCitizen payment gateway.
The Marine Insurance Act CAP 390, enacted in 1968, provides that any person with insurable interest in marine cargo shall place Marine Cargo Insurance cover with a domestic insurer. For years, however, enforcement of this particular statute has been weak.
The IRA said that its new directive is to ensure full compliance with the law.