Kenyan taxi drivers on digital platforms may soon find it easier to access medical insurance, thanks to a new partnership between Little, Maisha Poa Insurance, and BirdView Insurance.
- •The three firms have launched Mfanisi Go, a low-cost health cover designed specifically for drivers operating on the Little platform.
- •The move comes amid low health insurance coverage in Kenya, where fewer than one in ten people are insured.
- •Cost and limited access remain the biggest barriers, particularly for informal and gig economy workers, who often fall outside traditional employment-linked health benefits.
“We are deeply aware of the everyday struggles our drivers face. Mfanisi Go is our way of saying we see you, we value you, and we’re building for you,” said Fred Okwara, Deputy CEO at Little.
John Paul Otieno, CEO at Maisha Poa Insurance, described the initiative as “a way to make insurance less abstract and more practical for those often left out of the system.”
With Mfanisi Go, drivers can contribute as little as KSh 82 per day (or KSh 493 weekly), and access coverage for themselves and up to five dependents. Payments can be made in instalments over an 8-month period, and the insurance covers over 100 hospitals and clinics across major urban areas.
Enrollment and management of the plan are integrated directly into the Little app. Instead of making separate payments, drivers have contributions deducted from their earnings, reducing friction in maintaining coverage. The app also includes a telemedicine feature, offering remote consultations with doctors at no extra cost.
For drivers often on the road and without predictable income flows, the product offers flexibility and reduced administrative hassle. While it doesn’t solve broader structural issues in Kenya’s healthcare system, it marks a step toward more inclusive access- especially for a segment of the workforce that is both growing and underserved.
