Funerals vs Insurance: A Call for Rethink in Kenya

 One of the most surprising facts about many African societies, Kenya included, is how little people use insurance, even after decades of independence. Insurance agents know this well: selling life and health insurance is often the hardest part of their job.

Here is a common story. An elderly parent falls ill and is admitted to hospital. The children are working and earn good salaries, but the parent has no health insurance. Hospital bills rise quickly. To cut costs, the family moves the parent to a cheaper facility with lower quality care. Tensions grow at home. Savings are used up and assets are sold. If the parent dies, the same children suddenly raise large sums for a funeral — and money appears almost overnight.

That raises a simple question: would it not be cheaper to buy health insurance for parents before they retire? Insurance companies now offer plans that cover people into their seventies and beyond. Yes, premiums for older people are higher, but they are usually far less than the money families spend on funerals.

Why do families still choose funerals over insurance? There are several reasons. Culture and social pressure matter: funerals are public events that show respect and status. People feel judged if they do not give a proper send‑off. Trust and understanding are also issues. Many people do not trust insurance companies or do not understand how insurance works. Money habits play a role: paying small regular premiums feels harder than collecting cash for a single event. Finally, informal safety nets — like burial societies, church groups, and family networks — already cover funeral costs, so people rely on them instead of formal insurance.

This pattern has real costs. When families delay care or move loved ones to lower‑quality facilities, health outcomes suffer. Selling assets to pay medical bills can push households into long‑term poverty. And when money only flows after death, we must ask whether the elderly are more valued when they are gone than when they are alive and healthy.

The solution is not only the responsibility of families. The insurance industry must design affordable, clear, and trustworthy products for older adults and for people in the informal economy. Regulators and consumer groups must protect buyers and improve transparency. Community leaders and churches can help change the message: buying health insurance is not a curse or a sign of expecting death — it is a way to protect families and preserve dignity.

If more Africans stop seeing life and health insurance as a bad omen, two things will happen. First, more families will protect their loved ones while they are alive. Second, higher demand will make premiums more affordable. The result would be fewer families forced to sell assets, better care for the elderly, and fewer tragedies that could have been prevented.

It is time to rethink priorities. Funerals matter, but so does life. Choosing insurance over last‑minute fundraising is not unfeeling — it is practical, protective, and loving. The change should start now.