Kenyan fintech startup MaishaPoa, founded in 2022 by CEO John Paul Otieno and COO Brian Nyakundi, has teamed up with mobile technology providers to deliver affordable health insurance to low- and middle-income households.
The company aims to insure 1 million first-time health insurance users in Kenya within five years, targeting a market where only 3% of the population currently has coverage.
MaishaPoa focuses on human-centered design to create simple, cost-effective solutions tailored to its audience, addressing the high healthcare costs that push 1.5 million Kenyans into extreme poverty annually.
Leveraging grants from SCBF and FSD-Kenya, MaishaPoa has already insured over 17,000 lives, generated $490,000 in revenue, and paid out $298,000 in claims.
The startup collaborates with underwriters, earning income through premium commissions, admin fees, and underwriting profits. “We are tapping heavily into human-centered design to ensure that our products and processes are responsive to the end user,” Nyakundi told Disrupt Africa.
“MaishaPoa is stepping in to bridge this gap by offering affordable and tailored insurance solutions for the mass market, ensuring more Kenyans can access quality healthcare without financial hardship,” he added.
Users can access MaishaPoa’s services through its mobile platform, where they can sign up for policies, manage claims, and connect with support.
The company plans to secure a microinsurance license to expand its offerings and potentially enter other African markets. For now, it remains focused on strengthening its Kenyan operations and refining its products.
