Low-cost medical cover Linda Jamii hits dead end

From right: Britam Group MD, Benson Wairegi, Safaricom’s Bob Collymore, Britam Director Insurance Business Stephen Wandera and Changamka CEO Sam Agutu unveil Linda Jamii, a micro insurance medical product in early 2014. [photo: file/standard]

The much hyped low-cost medical cover Linda Jamii has folded less than two years into the market, signaling failure to gain traction in the market. Linda Jamii, a service in partnership with telecommunications firm Safaricom, Changamka Micro Insurance and investment firm Britam was from September 30, 2015 discontinued, sending about 80,000 users of the product into confusion.

Changamka Micro-insurance Limited, which owns the technology, Thursday evening told Weekend Business that the three partners had agreed to pull the product out of the market without giving reasons. “The Linda Jamii consortium partners (Britam, Safaricom and Changamka) have decided to withdraw the product from the market effective September 30, 2015. Consequently, there will be no new or renewals for customers on the service,” said Mr Sam Agutu, principal officer at Changamka Micro-insurance Ltd.