IoT Timeline in Kenya and Insurance Sector

 

The use of IoT technology in Kenya is growing rapidly and has been embraced across various sectors in recent years. Here are some notable developments:

 

2015: Kenya became the first African country to launch a nationwide Internet of Things (IoT) network through Safaricom, one of the leading mobile network providers in the country. The network is based on the Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) technology and allows for low-power, long-range communications between IoT devices.

 

2016: The Kenyan government launched the National ICT Masterplan 2017-2021, which included provisions for the development of IoT infrastructure and the promotion of IoT-based applications and services.

 

2017: IoT startups began to emerge in Kenya, with companies such as Twiga Foods, mSurvey, and PayGo Energy pioneering IoT-based solutions for agriculture, market research, and clean cooking, respectively.

 

2018: The Nairobi County government launched an IoT-based parking management system, which uses sensors to monitor parking spaces and help drivers locate available spots more easily.

 

2019: The Kenyan government partnered with Huawei to launch an IoT innovation hub in Nairobi, aimed at supporting the development of IoT startups and encouraging collaboration between industry players.

 

2020: IoT technology played a crucial role in Kenya's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with applications such as contact tracing, remote patient monitoring, and virtual consultations being developed and deployed across the country.

 

Overall, the use of IoT technology in Kenya is still in its early stages, but the country has made significant strides in developing the necessary infrastructure and promoting the adoption of IoT-based solutions. With a thriving startup ecosystem and a government that is committed to digital transformation, Kenya is well-positioned to continue to lead the way in IoT innovation in Africa.

 

IoT

The use of IoT technology in the insurance industry in Kenya is still in its early stages, but there have been some notable developments in recent years:

 

2017: Jubilee Insurance, one of the largest insurance companies in Kenya, launched an IoT-based car insurance product called "JubiRide." The product uses telematics to track driving behavior and reward safe drivers with lower premiums.

 

2018: APA Insurance, another major insurance company in Kenya, partnered with a local IoT startup to launch a pilot project using IoT sensors to monitor the condition of insured goods during transit. The goal of the project was to reduce the risk of losses and claims by detecting and addressing potential issues early.

 

2019: Kenyan insurtech startup Bluewave Insurance launched an IoT-based crop insurance product that uses satellite data and weather sensors to monitor crop health and provide farmers with real-time risk assessments.

 

2020: Some insurance companies in Kenya began exploring the use of IoT technology to offer new products and services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as remote health monitoring for policyholders and virtual claims processing.

 

Overall, while the adoption of IoT technology in the insurance industry in Kenya is still relatively low, there are signs that some companies are beginning to explore the potential of this technology. As IoT devices become more widely available and the benefits of IoT-based insurance products become clearer, it is likely that we will see more adoption of IoT in the industry in the coming years.