She's got you covered

Agnes Kariuki, 36, is the insurance agent of the year for the second year running. She narrates to SHIRLEY GENGA her journey from village life to conquering the city

She was awarded the coveted Insurance Agent of the Year Award last year and this year, Agnes managed to retain the title, beating a whooping 333 agents from all over Kenya who qualified for the award.

The Agent of the Year Awards is an annual event launched in 2002 by the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) to recognise and reward outstanding performance by life insurance agents.

Agnes Kariuki describes herself as a self-made woman and when you sit down with her, it becomes clear that she irrefutably is. The mother of two came from a humble background.

"I was born and grew up as an ordinary girl in Gitathii-ini village in Nyeri County. I had an ordinary village childhood — after school I fetched water in the river and firewood in the bush with other girls of my age. I cooked family meals for supper as we listened to tales from our mother before we fell asleep.

As a child, I was completely unaware of anything beyond my environment. We had enough to eat and drink and this was all the life I knew. This was our sweet life. I went to Tetu Girls for my primary school until 1989. Then I went to Kangubiri High School in Nyeri County, where I sat for my KCSE in 1993," narrates Agnes.

Although there was no money for Agnes’ college education, she did not rest on her laurels.

"I continued to seek further knowledge. I improved my skills and knowledge through reading extensively. I believe in the power of books. I have built myself a well stocked library full of motivational books and successful people’s biographies. I believe that just as eating three meals a day makes us well-fed, reading one hour a day makes us wiser," says Agnes.

In 1995, at the age of 20, Agnes came to Nairobi to stay with an aunt and to hunt for a job. One day, she saw an advert in the paper asking for insurance sales representatives.

Full of potential

"Though the age requirement then was 25 years, I decided to try my luck. American Life Insurance Company (Alico) was at the time looking for sales representatives. I was invited for the interviews and to my surprise, the agency manager was convinced I had the potential despite the age limit. I was hired on contract," says Agnes.

The hardest part was getting acquainted with the city and its people to start selling insurance policies.

"I started it off like an adventure. I never really had any goals at the time — I was just happy to have something to do. Soon after, reality about the kind of business I had chosen to engage in hit me. I got down to serious business and when I reflect back, I realise that although the last 15 years in the insurance business have had their share of challenges, it has been exiting and rewarding too," says Agnes.

All her working life, Agnes has worked at CFC Life (formerly Alico) and, with hardwork and determination, has slowly risen up the ranks.

"I worked as a sales agent from 1995 to 2000. I was then promoted to unit manager. and worked in that capacity from 2000 to 2005, after which I became an agency manager. As an agency manager my job entailed outsourcing sales people and inducting them to do sales.

"Beginning this year, I requested to be relieved of my management responsibilities to concentrate on my talents in sales. My current position in the company is Executive Financial Advisor. This involves sourcing for new clients, which I love. However, I still mentor and motivate many fellow agents. I don’t need a title to do that," says Agnes.

Agnes advises that to be successful as an insurance agent, one must be patient, determined, focused and willing to progressively learn the ropes of the trade. But it is not all hard work and no reward.

Rewarding profession

"I love the fact that I get to interact with different people from different professions. I have gotten to interact with many successful people. The job gives you a lot of exposure. It is also a rewarding profession which has given me financial freedom," says Agnes.

When she is not in the office Agnes loves to spend time with her husband Isaac Ndegwa and her children, Keith and Grace.

About the future of insurance industry in Kenya, she says: "The future of insurance industry, especially life insurance, is bright. With Vision 2030, the economy is certainly projected to expand, so people will have more disposable income and more people will afford to invest in life assurance as one of the avenues.

"The increase in literacy levels will also help to create a more informed population, who can appreciate the value of buying and investing in insurance products," asserts Agnes.

Lastly, she advises that a good insurance company is one that can deliver when the insured risk occurs.

Says she: "Before you commit your money, do thorough research. Find out the reputation of the company, especially in paying off once the risk happens."