Britam Connect has launched a new funeral insurance product, the Heshima Farewell Plan, to help Kenyan families manage funeral expenses and ease financial strain during periods of bereavement.
In a statement issued on April 8, Britam said the product was developed in response to the steadily rising cost of funerals across the country.
The insurer’s microinsurance unit has partnered with Montezuma Funeral Home to deliver a last-expense solution that combines financial cover and structured funeral services.
Britam Connect Introduces Funeral Cover Handling Costs and Arrangements
According to Britam, funeral costs in urban centers, including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, now exceed KShs 300,000 in many cases.
The company noted that families in rural areas are also struggling with higher expenses driven by transport, mortuary services, coffins, and catering for mourners, often leaving households reliant on emergency fundraising or loans after the loss of a loved one.
Unlike traditional funeral insurance policies that mainly offer cash payouts, Britam Connect said the Heshima Farewell Plan goes a step further by incorporating managed funeral services.
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Through its partnership with Montezuma Funeral Home, the insurer explained that families will receive support covering mortuary service payments, hearse and nationwide transport, caskets, flowers, portrait preparation, obituary assistance, funeral programs, chapel services, and limousine hearses, depending on the selected package.
The company added that the plan has been approved by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) and provides cover for burial-related expenses arising from both natural and accidental deaths.
Britam Connect said the objective is to help families give their loved ones a dignified send-off without being overwhelmed by financial pressures.
Partnership Aims to Ease Emotional and Financial Strain After Loss
Speaking at the launch, Britam Connect CEO and Principal Officer Evah Kimani said the plan is meant to help people prepare early and avoid stress during difficult times.
She said funeral costs are putting pressure on many Kenyan families, and the Heshima Farewell Plan is designed to reduce that burden by helping people plan ahead, so families can focus on mourning rather than on raising money.
Britam Connect also noted that data from the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) show that middle-income families spend between KShs 50,000 and KShs 300,000 on funerals, underscoring the need for affordable funeral cover.
To suit different budgets, Britam Connect said the Heshima Farewell Plan offers several cover options, allowing people to choose what they can afford.
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These include a Basic Cover of KShs 100,000 at an annual premium of KShs 1,000; a Standard Cover of KShs 150,000 at an annual premium of KShs 1,400; an Executive Cover of KShs 300,000 at an annual premium of KShs 1,700; and a Premium Cover of KShs 500,000 at an annual premium of KShs 1,850.
Commenting on the partnership, Montezuma Funeral Home Operations Manager Josh Karuga said the collaboration allows families to manage both the emotional and financial demands that come with loss.
“We see firsthand the emotional and financial strain families go through when they lose a loved one.
New Policy Covers Adults, Children, and Parents
This partnership with Britam Connect allows us to support families more holistically, ensuring they can give their loved ones a respectful send-off without the added burden of unexpected costs,” noted Montezuma Funeral Home Operations Manager Josh Karuga.
Britam said the policy is available to adults aged 18 to 70, with renewable cover up to age 80.
Children aged from 1 month to 18 years, students up to 25 years with proof of enrolment, as well as parents and parents-in-law up to age 80, are also eligible, with coverage for parents’ renewable up to age 85.
The policy comes with waiting periods of 1 to 6 months, depending on the cause of death.
Britam Connect said it expects the new plan to encourage higher uptake of funeral insurance while reducing dependence on emergency fundraising and borrowing.
The launch follows an earlier partnership with Francis Funeral Home in Busia, marking the insurer’s continued expansion in funeral insurance solutions.
