Sh60m in MPs’ life cover paid

 

The Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Kenneth Marende (centre) and the Clerk Mr. Patrick Gichohi (right) on June 28, 2012 receive a cheque valued at Sh30M from the Chief Executive Officer of Jubilee Insurance Company limited Mr. Patrick Tumbo (left) being life benefits for members of the families that lost three seating MPs recently. Photo/SALATON NJAU 

By NATION TEAM newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Families of Michuki, Saitoti and Ojode expected to get Sh20 million each from Jubilee and Kenindia insurance companies

The families of three MPs who died this year have been awarded Sh10 million each by Jubilee Insurance Company.

The families of former Environment Minister John Michuki, former Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and his former assistant Orwa Ojode are expected to get another Sh10 million each from Kenindia Insurance.

National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende and Clerk Patrick Gichohi received a Sh30 million dummy cheque for the families from insurance giant Jubilee at Parliament Buildings on Thursday.

Mr Michuki who was Kangema MP died in February following an illness, while Saitoti and Ojode died in a plane crash on June 10.

Jubilee Insurance chief executive Patrick Tumbo said each of the bereaved families will get Sh10 million for life assurance cover.
Mr Gichohi said the National Assembly paid Sh12.6 million as premium to Jubilee Insurance. “It was an open tender running from September 1, 2011 for renewal on 31st August 2012,” Mr Gichohi said.

Mr Marende said all the MPs are covered by Jubilee Insurance for life, while Kenindia provides group personal accident policy.

The Speaker said the life cover is for compensation of MPs who die from any other cause other than accident.

The insurance cover, the Speaker said is to enable families of deceased not to be left in squalor adding that it is one of most progressive things done by Parliament since independence.

“The insurance cover takes care of welfare of members and ensure Kenyans receive value from Parliament from services provided by representative institutions,” Mr Marende said.

Mr Marende hailed Jubilee for the prompt payment, saying the firm acted differently from the notion that it is easy to pay premiums but getting the claims is not.

Mr Tumbo said his firm released the claims even before receiving death certificates for the three former ministers.

He said Jubilee is the top insurance firm in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in relation to medical, general, life and pension insurance.

“Last year, we were honoured by 12 awards including best risk management. Our chairman was also awarded life time achievement award while this year we were honoured for being the best in claims settlement. We are one of the best in the region, and are ISO certified,” Mr Tumbo said.

He said Jubilee which is marking its 75th anniversary also paid all its customers who suffered losses during the 2007 post-election violence.

“We are top of the range when it comes to insurance cover. We receive payments and honour claims promptly,” he said.
Insurance cover
Mr Tumbo thanked Parliament for passing legislation to assist the insurance industry, and encouraged Kenyans who are above 18 to take insurance covers.

“We need everybody to take insurance cover so that when misfortunes occur they are compensated and families be reinstated to the state they were before the loss. We are also trying to make insurance available to low income earners, church groups and school children,” Mr Tumbo said.

Meanwhile, Mr Marende said it would take a little bit longer before voters in three constituencies whose MPs died this year could elect their replacements.