The Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA), in collaboration with leading insurance providers and technology partners, has officially launched the Digital Marine Cargo Insurance (DMCI) Platform, marking a significant milestone in the digital transformation of Kenya’s logistics and trade ecosystem. The new platform is designed to simplify the process of obtaining marine cargo insurance certificates for importers, clearing agents, and freight forwarders while enhancing compliance with government regulations. By digitizing a traditionally manual process, the initiative aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and the overall customer experience within the country’s import and customs clearance environment.
The Digital Marine Cargo Insurance Platform brings together a broad ecosystem of stakeholders, including participating insurers such as APA General Insurance, Britam General Insurance, CIC General Insurance, Old Mutual General Insurance, Pacis Insurance, and Dynamique. The platform is also integrated with eCitizen, creating a seamless digital experience that enables users to complete insurance transactions more efficiently. Through these strategic partnerships, KIFWA is helping modernize marine cargo insurance by leveraging technology to streamline regulatory compliance and improve service delivery across the logistics value chain.
One of the platform’s key strengths lies in its deep integration with critical national systems, including eCitizen payment services, the Kenya Revenue Authority’s Integrated Customs Management System (ICMS), M-Pesa, participating banking institutions, and other relevant regulatory agencies. This interconnected ecosystem enables real-time premium payments, instant issuance of digital marine cargo insurance certificates, and automated certificate verification during customs clearance. The result is a faster, more secure, and more reliable process that minimizes delays while reducing paperwork and administrative burdens for businesses.
The launch also introduces several innovative capabilities that strengthen operational efficiency across Kenya’s freight and logistics sector. Users can now benefit from instant issuance of insurance certificates, automated digital processing, real-time payment confirmation, secure verification processes, and integrated regulatory compliance. In addition, KIFWA is providing nationwide customer support and training to ensure clearing and forwarding agents can effectively adopt the new system and maximize its benefits. These features collectively contribute to a more transparent, accountable, and technology-driven trade environment.
The Digital Marine Cargo Insurance Platform represents another important step in Kenya’s broader digital transformation agenda, demonstrating how collaboration between industry associations, insurers, technology providers, and government agencies can improve public service delivery and enhance the ease of doing business. By simplifying compliance processes and digitizing critical trade services, KIFWA and its partners are helping strengthen Kenya’s logistics infrastructure, support cross-border trade, and build a more efficient and competitive supply chain ecosystem for the future.
