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FAQs

What is the Policyholders Compensation Fund?
The Policyholders Compensation Fund is an insurance compensation scheme established within the provisions of Section 179 of the   Insurance Act for the primary purpose of protecting the policyholders of an insolvent insurance company by paying them compensation for their unsettled claims. 
 
Why was the PCF established?
The establishment of the Fund was as a result of reforms undertaken in the insurance sector in response to the collapse of several insurance companies which led to policyholder’s exposure to risk and losses of insurance benefits. The Fund’s mandate is to pay compensation which is intended to provide relief from the suffering policyholders undergo when an insurer collapses. By safeguarding the interests of policyholders, the fund contributes to the stability of the insurance industry by enhancing confidence.
 
When the fund was started?
The Fund was established on 24th September 2004 through legal notice 105 of 2004 signed by the Minister of Finance and commenced its operations on 1st January 2005.
 
What is the duration taken to declare an insurance company insolvent?
There is no specific duration or time taken to declare an insurance company insolvent. Before a company is declared insolvent, the IRA appoints a statutory manager to try and revive the company. The statutory manager will take over the company for a specified time period but depending on the circumstances of the work, can apply for an extension with the Authority.  In the event that the manager successfully revives the company, it will not be declared insolvent. Should the manager be unable to revive the company, they will through a report inform the IRA who will file for a winding up petition at the courts. The period for hearing such a petition can only be determined by the legal process. It is thus difficult to quantify the duration it takes to declare an insurance company insolvent.
 
What are the rights of policyholders in relation to compensation from the fund?
The insurance policyholders are the beneficiaries of the Fund. It is therefore the policyholders right to be compensated when the company providing them with an insurance cover is declared insolvent by a court of law.
 
What is the process of seeking compensation?
What happens to policyholders of insurance companies that are under statutory management who have been sued by third parties? Can the law protect them from such legal proceedings during the period the insurance company is under statutory management?
 
Do policyholders of Stallion Insurance Company qualify to claim for compensation?
No, Policyholders of the insurance Companies that collapsed before the fund started receiving contributions in January 2005 do not qualify for compensation from the fund. Stallion Insurance Company Ltd is one of these companies. Others include Access Insurance Company Ltd, Kenya National Assurance Co. Ltd, and Lakestar Insurance Co. Ltd.
 
What is the relationship between the I.R.A and the PCF?
  • The IRA and the PCF are both stakeholders in the Insurance sector. However, IRA regulates and supervises the industry players while PCF compensates policyholders of the wound up Insurance Companies.
  • Both bodies have been established under the insurance act.
  • Both establishments are mandated to protect the interests of insurance policy holders and promote the development of the insurance sector.
Why should Policyholders pay the PCF levy? Insurance Companies should pay it?
The beneficiaries of the fund are policyholders and not the insurance companies. By contributing to the fund, the policyholders are meeting their statutory obligation of ensuring that they will be compensated should their insurer be declared insolvent.
 
What are the funds collected used for?
The Fund collects contributions for the sole purpose of compensation of Policyholders. However, the Fund being an entity has operational needs. Therefore, 10% of the total contributions received are allocated to the administration of the Fund. The balance of 90% is invested in Government Securities like Treasury Bills to earn interest.

Stakeholders

Liquidation

The following companies are currently under liquidation.

  1. Standard Assurance Kenya Ltd
  2. Concord Insurance Co. Ltd

Compensation

The Fund covers claims arising from all insurance policies issued in Kenya. However, the following exceptions hold:

  1. a policy of re-insurance
  2. a superannuation scheme;
  3. Claims arising from policies issued before the Fund commenced its operations.

Rates

The Funds Board of Trustees shall, in consultation with the Minister, determine from time to time, the amount payable as compensation for different classes of insurance policies and thereafter pay such compensation to the policyholder or their beneficiary as soon as is reasonably practicable after a claim is made.

Procedure

A policyholder who is eligible for compensation may make a claim for compensation in the prescribed form and shall submit the form to the Managing Trustee.

The claim form submitted shall be accompanied by such other documents in support of the claim as the Board may require.
    In making a claim for compensation a policyholder shall—

  1. observe utmost good faith by making a full and honest disclosure, to the Board, of all material facts relating to his claim; and
  2. provide any other information, whether on oath or otherwise, as may be required by the Board.

The Board may reject a claim and decline to pay any compensation of a policyholder who fails to comply with paragraphs (1), (2) or (3).

Conditions

Compensation shall only be provided under the Act and the Regulations subject to the following conditions:

  1. When an authorised insurance company that issued a Kenyan policy or policies has become insolvent. For purposes of these Regulations, an authorised insurance company shall be considered to be insolvent if—
    1. it is wound up by the Court under section 219 of the Companies Act
    2. it does not meet the solvency requirements prescribed in section 41 of the Act;
    3. in the case of an insurance company carrying on general business, where a resolution for voluntary winding up is made in a meeting of creditors under section 286 of the Companies Act; or
    4. it is wound up by the court at the instance of the Commissioner of Insurance under section 123 of the Act.
  2. The right of any policyholder to compensation shall be subject to compliance of the policyholder with any conditions, relating to the total or partial assignment of the policyholders rights under or in respect of the relevant Kenyan policy, imposed by the Board, including—
    1. any rights a policyholder may have in respect of any payments made by the policyholder to the insolvent insurance company as premiums, under the policy, after the insolvency; or
    2. any rights a policyholder may have against any other person in respect of any event giving rise to any liability of the company under the relevant policy.
  3. Any payment made by any person, other than the Board, to the policyholder being a payment which is related to any liability of an insolvent company to the policyholder, may, if the Board so decides, be considered as payment, in whole or in part, of the compensation payable to the policyholder under the Act and these Regulations.

Limitations

  1. The Board shall not provide compensation under its regulations in the following circumstances:
    1. Where the petition for the winding up of the insurance company by the court was presented before the 1st January, 2005;
    2. whether or not the Court has made an order for the winding-up of the company after the resolution was passed, if the resolution was passed before the 1st January, 2005.
  2. Where a claim for compensation is made after two years from the date of insolvency of an authorised insurance company.
    1. Where the liability of the insolvent insurance company to the policyholder is duplicated by the liability of any other authorised insurance company which is not, for the purposes of these Regulations, insolvent.
    2. For purposes of paragraph (i), the liability of an authorised insurance company towards a policyholder is duplicated by the liability of another authorised insurance company if the other company also has the liability, under the terms of any other Kenyan policy which on the date of the insolvency of the first company, to pay the policyholder in respect of the matter to which the liability of the first company relates.
  3. Where the Commissioner of Insurance has, pursuant to section 67C (2) of the Act, appointed a manager to assume the management, control and conduct of the affairs and business of an authorised insurance company which becomes insolvent thereafter, unless the claim relates to the liability of the said company arising out of an incident or event occurring before the date of appointment of the manager.

About Us

The Policyholders Compensation Fund (PCF) is a State Corporation under the The National Treasury that was established through the Legal Notice No.105 of 2004 and commenced its operations in January 2005

The Fund was established for the primary purpose of providing compensation to claimants of an insurer that has been put under Statutory Management and for the secondary purpose of increasing the general public’s confidence in the insurance sector. The decision to establish the Fund was informed by the collapse of several Insurance companies prior to the year 2005. The Fund is governed by section 179 of the Insurance Act (Cap 487) and the Insurance (Policyholders Compensation Fund) (Amendment) Regulations, 2014.

Mission

To promote timely compensation of policyholders and prompt resolution of insurers..

Vision


Premier Policyholders’ Compensation Fund.

Core Valuers

  • Professionalism
  • Accountability
  • Innovation
  • Collaboration
  • Customer-centric
  • Integrity

Our Motto

Dhamana ya bima  yako

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Contact Us

KWFT Center, 6th Floor
Masaba Road, Upper Hill
P.o. Box 24203-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254 794 582 700
Email: info@pcf.go.ke

Write to us.