Students at risk as 85 per cent of schools lack insurance - AKI report

Millions of learners and their families are exposed to devastating losses as most schools in Kenya continue to operate without any form of insurance, a new report has revealed.

The study by the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) shows that more than 85 per cent of primary and secondary schools lack non-motor insurance, meaning students, teachers, and parents bear the cost whenever tragedy strikes.

Out of 46,322 schools registered by the end of 2023, only 6,784 had non-motor insurance cover, representing just 14.6 per cent.

Among these, 2,018 are primary schools, 3,422 are secondary schools, while 1,344 could not be categorised due to gaps in insurer data.

This leaves 39,538 schools completely uninsured, exposing families to the burden of raising funds or relying on government intervention when disasters occur.

The risks are not theoretical. Between January and September last year, the Ministry of Education recorded 107 fire incidents in schools across the country.

The most tragic was the fire at Hill Side Endarasha Academy in Nyeri that killed 21 students and injured dozens.

In September alone, ten schools across the Rift Valley, Eastern, and Central regions reported fires on the same day, prompting an audit that declared 348 boarding schools unsafe.

For the affected families, loss of life, medical bills, and the destruction of property became heavy burdens with no safety net in place.

The AKI report shows that despite the availability of policies designed for schools, uptake remains minimal.

Of 215 insurance product mentions, fire and perils coverage appeared only 32 times, group or student personal accident 29, WIBA 27, burglary or theft 27, all risks 20, and public liability 18.

Other protections, such as fidelity guarantee, political violence, machinery breakdown, and electronic equipment, were barely taken up.

For families and teachers, this means that in the aftermath of accidents or emergencies, support is almost non-existent.

“This leaves most schools, their students and their staff vulnerable to financial ruin in the event of a disaster,” AKI said in its report.

According to the study, many schools also lack basic safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, emergency exits, perimeter walls, and updated records.

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Without these, it is difficult for insurers to assess risk or provide coverage. At the same time, many school managers assume that in the event of a crisis, parents or the government will step in to meet the costs.

Public schools are particularly affected as most operate under strict budgets, with funds often directed to immediate needs such as salaries and infrastructure rather than insurance.

The absence of binding regulations from the Ministry of Education further compounds the challenge, despite the existence of safety guidelines under the 2000 Safety Manual.

To shield families and learners from repeated loss, AKI has urged a joint strategy with the Ministry of Education. Proposals include creating bundled insurance packages that combine fire, accident, and liability cover, increasing awareness among school leaders, and using digital platforms to reach schools in remote areas.

The report concludes that unless urgent measures are taken, schools, learners, and parents will remain dangerously exposed, one disaster away from overwhelming tragedy.