Kenya to Enforce Mandatory Local Marine Cargo Insurance for All Imports
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The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) has announced the enforcement of mandatory local marine cargo insurance cover for all imports entering Kenya.
In a public notice issued by the Insurance Regulatory Authority, importers were informed that all marine cargo insurance policies for imports must now be obtained from insurers licensed under Kenyan law before customs clearance is granted.
IRA stated that the enforcement is anchored in existing legal provisions governing marine insurance and insurance business operations in the country.
The notice emphasized that the initiative will be fully digitized and integrated into the Kenya Revenue Authority’s customs management system to streamline processing and compliance.
“Section 16A of the Marine Insurance Act CAP 390 Laws of Kenya, provides that any person with insurable interest in marine cargo shall place Marine Cargo Insurance cover with an insurer licensed under the Insurance Act CAP 487 Laws of Kenya,” IRA stated.
Legal Provisions Guiding Enforcement
The notice further warned importers and businesses against sourcing insurance services from unlicensed foreign entities without approval from the Insurance Commissioner.
“Further, Section 204(1) of the Insurance Act CAP 487 provides that it is an offence for any person to directly or indirectly place any Kenya business with an insurer not licensed under the Insurance Act without prior written approval of the Commissioner of Insurance,” the regulator warned.
According to the authority, the National Treasury directed the IRA to collaborate with the Kenya Revenue Authority and Safaricom PLC to establish a digital platform capable of integrating directly into the KRA Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS).
“To ensure full compliance with the indicated legal provisions, the National Treasury guided the Authority to work together with the Kenya Revenue Authority and Safaricom PLC to come up with a digital platform that will integrate directly into the Kenya Revenue Authority’s Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS),” IRA said.
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Enforcement to Begin July 2026
The regulator announced that the system has already been developed and that mandatory compliance will begin on July 1, 2026.
“The platform has now been developed, and the public is hereby notified that effective 1st July 2026, all importers shall be required to digitally place Marine Cargo Insurance cover for their imports from insurers licensed under the Insurance Act CAP 487 Laws of Kenya, prior to obtaining customs clearance,” the regulator announced.
The authority explained that the process will be conducted electronically through insurers’ portals and other connected digital systems linked to the IRA platform and eCitizen payment gateway.
“A Digital Marine Cargo Insurance Certificate request will be made through the insurers’ or any other portals connected to the Insurance Regulatory Authority electronic platform and the eCitizen payment gateway,” IRA explained.
It added that successful processing and payment confirmations would automatically be transmitted to customs systems for verification and clearance procedures.
“The processed digital marine certificate and premium payment confirmation from the eCitizen payment gateway will be submitted electronically to the KRA Integrated Customs Management Systems (iCMS),” IRA added.
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Procedure for Obtaining Digital Marine Cargo Insurance
The IRA also outlined the procedure importers will follow when acquiring the mandatory digital marine cargo insurance cover.
“A Digital Marine Certificate shall be issued against an active IDF (Import Declaration Form),” IRA said.
“A customer shall log into any mobile or online portals of insurers, brokers or agents and follow the instructions for digitizing a Marine Insurance Cargo Cover. All portals and web-based portals shall be integrated to the IRA electronic platform and eCitizen payment gateway,” IRA further added.
“The step-by-step procedure is available through www.ira.go.ke,” IRA concluded.
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KRA Office Headquarters in Nairobi PHOTO/KRA