The Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA), in partnership with seven insurance firms and government technology platforms, has launched a nationwide Digital Marine Cargo Insurance (DMCI) platform ahead of the enforcement of mandatory Marine Cargo Insurance requirements that will be effective as of July 1, 2026.
The new digital platform is expected to simplify the process of obtaining marine cargo insurance certificates by enabling importers, clearing and forwarding agents, and other logistics players to complete the entire process online. It also seeks to improve compliance while reducing delays associated with cargo clearance.
The initiative brought together APA General Insurance, Britam General Insurance, CIC General Insurance, Old Mutual General Insurance, Pacis Insurance, Dynamique and eCitizen in a coordinated digital ecosystem that connects with the Kenya Revenue Authority’s Integrated Customs Management System (ICMS), eCitizen payment services, M-Pesa, commercial banks and other payment verification channels.
Through the platform, users can obtain Digital Marine Cargo Insurance certificates instantly after payment, with certificates verified in real time by the relevant agencies. The system is also designed to automate key processes, helping to speed up cargo clearance while enhancing transparency across the import process.
According to KIFWA, the platform was developed to address longstanding inefficiencies in marine cargo insurance compliance by offering a secure and fully integrated digital solution for the logistics industry.
Besides instant certificate issuance, the platform enables real-time premium payments and verification through multiple payment channels, including eCitizen, M-Pesa, banking institutions and Pesaflow. The digital integration is expected to reduce paperwork and manual verification, making customs clearance more efficient for importers and clearing agents.
The launch follows a nationwide sensitization campaign that has seen KIFWA and its partners train industry stakeholders in Nairobi, Mombasa, Malaba, Busia, Namanga and Isebania ahead of the policy’s implementation.
The training programme will continue over the next 12 months to support the transition to the mandatory insurance framework. Participants are being guided on how to access the platform, obtain insurance certificates, make premium payments, integrate the process with customs clearance procedures, and report insurance claims.
KIFWA said it will continue working with its insurance partners to provide technical support and ongoing training to members throughout the implementation period, with the aim of ensuring uninterrupted cargo clearance and full compliance with the new regulations.
Further, the Marine Cargo Insurance will become mandatory for imports into Kenya from July 1, 2026, making the Digital Marine Cargo Insurance platform a key component of the country’s efforts to digitize trade facilitation and strengthen compliance within the logistics sector.
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