Africa’s insurance leaders have called for more digital connectivity and urgent adoption of connected data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive efficiency, cut costs and expand insurance access to cater for uninsured customer segments across the region.
Speaking at the InsurTech Forum Nairobi (ITFN) 2025, the leaders emphasised the need to break away from outdated legacy systems that keep data in silos and limit innovation.
Currently, only 1% of insurance operations in Africa leverage AI capabilities, a figure expected to grow to 80% within the next five years, according to Urvi Patel, Consulting Leader, Deloitte East Africa.
“The biggest challenge for insurers today is reliance on legacy systems that are expensive, inefficient and cumbersome,” said Moses G. Kuria, Group Chief Financial Officer at M-TIBA.
“ The industry will greatly transform by leveraging connected end-to-end digital systems that improve efficiency, simplify products, and allow for more personalised, customer-friendly services.”
He added that the future of health insurance will be defined by interconnected systems, member-centric solutions, ecosystem partnerships, and predictive analytics that shift the industry from reactive claims management to proactive health management.
The forum, themed “From Legacy to AI: Actionable Next Steps,” convened over 150 executives, board members, regulators, and innovators. Curated in partnership with the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI), the Insurance Institute of Kenya (IIK), and Caava Group, alongside partners including M-TIBA, Deloitte, NCBA Bancassurance, Old Mutual, Redian Software, and NCBA-IG, ITFN 2025 positioned itself as Africa’s leading platform for charting a practical roadmap for digital transformation.
Ayisi Makatiani, CEO of Caava Group and Convener of ITFN, underscored the forum’s purpose: “The dialogue around AI in insurance has moved from asking ‘why’ to focusing squarely on ‘how.’ ITFN 2025 is about equipping leaders with the tools, insights, and partnerships to move from theory to scaled, practical transformation.”
The forum featured keynote addresses, interactive panel discussions, and the Ultimate AI Innovation Challenge, where startups pitched solutions in underwriting, claims processing, fraud prevention, and customer engagement.
According to Urvi Patel, East Africa Consulting Services Market Leader at Deloitte, insurers must overcome low margins, slow growth, and legacy infrastructure to innovate effectively.
“Partnerships and ecosystem approaches are critical to ensure African insurers remain competitive and relevant in the AI-driven future,” she said.
With consensus on the urgency of digital transformation, the InsurTech Forum Nairobi 2025 is expected to be a catalyst for the partnerships and strategies that will shape the next decade of African insurance.
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