APA Insurance won the General Insurance Company of the Year Award, while Britam Insurance won Life Insurance Company of the Year Award during the AKI Agents of the Year Awards (AAYA) 2017 held on Friday, 9th March 2018 at Safari Park Hotel. Jubilee Insurance clinched the Most Improved Company of the Year Award having had 93 qualifying agents compared to 22 qualifiers in 2016. 

This annual event is a celebration of top performing insurance sales agents and companies for the year ended 31 December 2017. A total of 293 insurance sales agents were able to meet the rigorous criteria to qualify as top performers in the industry. Out of all the qualifying agents, 67 per cent were women.

Other winners at this year’s competition were Anastasia Muthoni from Britam Insurance, winner New Business Award which recognises the agent who brought in the most business during the year. Mr. Samson Muthee from Kenindia Assurance was presented with the Persistency Award which recognises agents with a good record of business retention over the last three years.

Speaking during the event where he was the guest of honour, Mr. Joshua Chepkwony, CEO Jamii Telcom, urged the insurance industry to partner with telecommunications companies to provide convenient solutions to insurance consumers given the fact that today’s consumer views technology as an enabler. He also noted that the consumer is changing as they are more tech savvy, more educated and have a wide array of choices for insurance service providers. 

Insurance sales agents form a critical element of the insurance industry as they contribute towards an estimated 40 per cent of insurance premiums. In as much as technology will be an enabler of convenient service, not all insurance products can be sold online from end to end. Some insurance products such as medical and life insurance still require human intervention. Given this, the role of the insurance sales agent will still be necessary going forward.