IRA blasts car insurers over Covid-19 curfew regulations

Insurance companies seeking to milk unsuspecting Kenyans of their money have been put on notice.

The Insurance Regulatory Authority (ARI) has said that companies offering motor vehicle insurance cannot reject accident claims that happen during curfew hours.

“As per the approved and standardized motor insurance policy documents, driving past and during curfew hours is not an exclusion in the current motor vehicle insurance covers. As such, insurance companies cannot reject motor vehicle claims on the basis of timing,” IRA said in a statement on Wednesday.

IRA further says that it has not received any official notification by any insurer to alter the terms and conditions, to include new ones guided by President Uhuru’s last week's directives on Covid-19.

“The Authority has not received any request to vary the general terms and conditions of motor insurance contract documents to include curfew requirements,” it said.

Hence, motorists will still take up their claims with their insurer as per their agreement.

The Authority has sent warning shots to insurance companies found disregarding the set directives, saying that they are not charged with enforcing the Covid-19 containment measures.

Outrage sparked earlier in the week following a public notice by the Association of Kenya Professional Insurance Agents.

Motorists driving past curfew hours risked having their insurance claims rendered invalid.

“Driving past curfew hours without essential services authorisation or valid emergency reasons could render your motor insurance claim invalid,” AKPIA said in a statement.

They would however retract the statement on Tuesday to say that verified accident claims that happen during curfew hours will be settled and that punishing clients who flout the Covid-19 rules is beyond their mandate.