Last week in Nairobi, Curacel hosted one of the most exciting conversations in Africa’s insurance and AI landscape—and it was nothing short of transformative. At the heart of our AI-focused gathering was a keynote that left the entire room buzzing.

Wangeci Kanjama, Board Director at Old Mutual General Insurance Kenya, took the stage and delivered a message that was as urgent as it was visionary:

The future of insurance in Africa will belong to those who master algorithms—not just premiums.

It was a defining moment in a day full of forward-thinking dialogue, and one that perfectly captured the bold spirit of the Curacel community.

Here’s a recap of her powerful keynote—and why it matters now more than ever.
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🚨 The Wake-Up Call: Africa’s Insurance Gap

Kanjama opened with a stark truth: Africa’s insurance penetration sits far below global levels. While the global average is 7.2% of GDP, the rest of Africa (excluding South Africa) lags behind at just 1.2%.

“South Africa accounts for 68% of all premiums on the continent,” she noted. “The rest of us? We have some catching up to do—but also a massive opportunity to leapfrog.”

And that’s exactly what her session was about: turning lag into leadership.
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🌍 5 Innovation Frontiers That Can Transform the Sector

Kanjama outlined five key areas where insurance innovation is already gaining momentum—and where AI can act as a multiplier:

• Microinsurance: Building inclusive safety nets for underserved, low-income communities.
  
  
• Insurtech: Streamlining how customers enroll, pay, and file claims.
  
  
• AI & Fraud Detection: Leveraging machine learning to stay ahead of risk.
  
  
• Islamic Insurance (Takaful): Culturally-aligned models that expand market reach.
  
  
• Agriculture Insurance: Creating climate-resilient safety nets for farmers using tools like weather indexing.
  
  

In short: there’s no shortage of problems. But now, there’s finally a set of tools to solve them.
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🔮 The 2030 Vision: Where Algorithms Outperform Premiums

One of the standout ideas from the keynote was this:

“In 2030, the most profitable insurers won’t be those with the best premiums. They’ll be the ones with the best algorithms.”

Kanjama painted a future where AI powers:

• Hyper-personalized insurance products based on lifestyle and behavior
  
  
• Embedded insurance through smart devices and apps
  
  
• Autonomous claims that are processed instantly, without human intervention
  
  
• Ethical, AI-first customer journeys that feel intuitive and proactive
  
  

It’s not just possible—it’s already happening in markets from Asia to the U.S. Africa has every reason (and reason to move fast) to follow suit.
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⚙️ The AI Playbook: From Strategy to Scale

Wangeci didn’t just talk theory—she offered a framework to execute:

1. Data Modernization: Build unified, AI-ready data systems.
   
   
2. Talent Transformation: Upskill teams to speak the language of AI.
   
   
3. Ecosystem Partnerships: Collaborate with insurtechs, cloud providers, and regulators.
   
   
4. Responsible AI Governance: Ensure ethical and transparent AI practices.
   
   
5. ROI & Value Tracking: Build dashboards to prove and improve impact continuously.
   
   

Each pillar comes with clear 2026 milestones—and a bold 2030 vision.
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🛠️ It’s Not About Tools—It’s About Advantage

Perhaps the most powerful takeaway was her call to action for every stakeholder:

• Boards must mandate AI as a strategic pillar.
  
  
• Tech teams need to build interoperable, scalable infrastructure.
  
  
• Marketing and customer teams must adopt AI to predict needs and personalize engagement.
  
  
• Regulators should embrace sandboxing and innovation-friendly policy.
  
  

“AI is not a tool. It is a strategic advantage,” Kanjama reminded us. “The future of insurance won’t be underwritten by actuaries alone—it will be co-authored by algorithms, data, and bold human vision.”
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📥 Get the Full Keynote Deck

Want to dive deeper into the frameworks, data, and vision Kanjama shared?

👉 [Download the Full AI Playbook Presentation by Wangeci Kanjama]

Whether you're building AI products, designing customer experiences, or shaping policy, this deck is your blueprint for an AI-native insurance future.
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👋 Ready to Build AI-Powered Claims?

At Curacel, we’re already partnering with forward-thinking insurers across Africa to make this vision real—powering intelligent claims automation, fraud detection, and seamless customer experiences.

📩 Talk to us if you're ready to move from possibilities to performance.
Let’s build the insurance future together.

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