Home Insurance in Kenya: Protect Your Property from Fire, Theft and Floods
Most Kenyan homeowners do not insure their homes — and the few who do often discover at claim time that they bought the wrong cover. This guide explains the three layers of home insurance available in Kenya and how to buy the right one.
The three layers of home cover
1. Buildings (Domestic Package)
Covers the physical structure of your home — walls, roof, doors, fitted kitchen and built-in fixtures. Insured against fire, lightning, explosion, storm, flood, earthquake, riot, malicious damage, and impact damage. Premium is roughly 0.15% – 0.25% of the rebuild value per year.
2. Contents (All Risks)
Covers furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, jewellery, and personal effects. Includes theft, fire, accidental damage, and water damage. High-value items (jewellery, art, designer watches) usually need to be itemised on the schedule.
3. Liability cover
Protects you against legal liability if a visitor is injured in your home, or your domestic staff sue you for workplace injury (this is where WIBA-equivalent cover lives for the household).
What is NOT covered
- Wear and tear, gradual deterioration, defective workmanship
- Mechanical or electrical breakdown of appliances
- Cash above the schedule limit
- Cell phones and laptops outside the home, unless 'All Risks' is added
- Damage caused by pests or rodents
How to size your sum insured correctly
For buildings, use rebuild cost (not market value) — usually KES 35,000 – KES 50,000 per square metre depending on finishes. For contents, walk through every room and estimate the replacement-new cost of everything you would lose. Most Kenyan homes are under-insured by 30 – 40%, which triggers an 'average' clause that reduces the payout proportionally.
Renters need home insurance too
If you rent, the landlord insures the building — but your contents, electronics and personal liability are still your responsibility. A tenants' contents policy is usually under KES 6,000 a year for a typical apartment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does home insurance cover in Kenya?keyboard_arrow_down
It typically covers the building structure against fire, flood, storm and impact damage, plus contents against theft, fire and accidental damage. Liability cover can also be added for visitors and domestic staff.
How is the sum insured for home insurance calculated?keyboard_arrow_down
Buildings should be insured at rebuild cost, not market value. Contents should be insured at replacement-new value based on a room-by-room inventory.
Need tailored advice?
Talk to a Zest Insurance advisor and get a quote tailored to your situation — at no extra cost.
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