At the InsurTech Forum Nairobi 2025, one message stood out clearly: Africa’s insurance and health sectors are emerging as global leaders in the responsible and inclusive application of AI.
What was once a futuristic vision is now a daily reality—health claims being approved in minutes, AI tools detecting fraud before it occurs, and predictive analytics helping people stay healthier. These innovations are not imported; they are powered by African data and infrastructure. As technology, regulation, and collaboration converge, Africa’s experience offers valuable lessons for other emerging regions pursuing similar digital transformation.
By the end of the forum, the tone shifted from experimentation to execution. Delegates agreed that Africa already possesses the digital foundations and regulatory clarity to scale AI responsibly across health finance. The task now is to connect the existing systems—transforming data into shared intelligence that builds trust and delivers tangible value to customers, companies, and communities alike.
Globally, insurers are learning to scale AI responsibly. Whether in Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, or the Gulf, many are still moving from pilot projects to full implementation. What distinguishes Africa, however, is the quality of its groundwork. Over the past decade, steady investments in mobile connectivity, digital policy systems, and claims automation have created clean, structured, and interoperable data—exactly what AI needs to thrive.
These digital frameworks are now evolving into intelligent systems. Routine tasks such as claims validation, reconciliation, and compliance checks can be automated, freeing human expertise for underwriting, customer care, and innovation. Data that once sat in silos is now being analysed in real time to improve pricing accuracy, reduce fraud, and anticipate client needs. Efficiency has become a gateway to intelligence.
Governance and Regulation
Strong governance underpins this transformation. Kenya’s 2019 Data Protection Act grants citizens the right to a human review of automated decisions, while the African Union’s 2024 AI Strategy embeds transparency and accountability into policy across member states. These frameworks offer boards and regulators confidence to scale innovation safely, showing that Africa’s AI revolution is built on both responsibility and speed.
Early results already support this confidence. Across markets, insurers adopting AI for claims and risk management are reporting measurable outcomes—lower loss ratios, faster processing times, and higher customer satisfaction. In Kenya and Nigeria, claims that once took weeks are now settled within hours.
Staff previously occupied with manual verification are being redeployed to customer service and analytics. These are not isolated examples but rather signs of a deeper structural shift in how the industry operates.
AI in Health Insurance
The same connected data and technology driving operational efficiency are also transforming the very purpose of health insurance. By securely linking medical, behavioural, and financial information, insurers and health partners can shift from paying for illness to investing in wellness.
In Kenya, health insurance is already managed in real time, allowing insurers to design more personalised products, reach new market segments faster, and operate with greater efficiency and profitability.
In Rwanda, predictive algorithms trained on antenatal-care data now identify high-risk pregnancies early, enabling targeted interventions that save lives. In Uganda, image-analysis tools detect malaria parasites with expert-level precision, expanding diagnostic capacity in rural clinics. In South Africa, AI-powered wellness programmes are guiding members toward preventive habits, showing early evidence of significant cost savings in chronic-disease management.
Across other emerging markets—from the Middle East to Southeast Asia—insurers are beginning to adopt similar models, proving that connected data and responsible AI are becoming universal enablers of more resilient, customer-centred health systems.
Learning from Every Claim
Every claim in this new model becomes a learning event. Insurers can identify risk patterns that promote prevention; healthcare providers can design better care pathways; and customers can gain confidence that their coverage supports long-term well-being, not just short-term treatment. Economic logic is equally powerful.
Predictive analytics can reduce claims costs, stabilise premiums, and free up capital for growth. For CEOs and boards, this represents a new equation: profitability and health no longer exist in tension—they reinforce each other.
The Path Forward for Africa
Africa’s opportunity lies not in starting from scratch, but in building on what already works. The continent’s mobile infrastructure, regulatory clarity, and culture of collaboration give it a head start in developing connected, AI-enabled insurance systems that serve people and markets more equitably. Success in the coming years will depend on leadership—executives who view connected data and responsible AI not as side projects, but as central to business strategy.
Artificial intelligence will not replace Africa’s insurance systems; it will make them smarter. The groundwork laid from 2015 to 2025 has evolved into a platform for real-time insights, preventive care, and customer trust. Africa’s story is no longer about catching up—it is about contributing to the global standard for how technology and governance can advance together to strengthen industries and serve society.
About InsurTech Forum Nairobi 2025
The InsurTech Forum Nairobi (ITFN) is an annual platform that brings together insurance executives, regulators, and technology leaders to explore innovation in Africa’s insurance and financial services sectors. The 2025 edition focused on Connected Data and Artificial Intelligence, drawing participants from across the continent.
Authors
Pieter Prickaerts is CEO of CarePay (M-TIBA in East Africa), a next-generation health insurance platform and partner for insurers and TPAs to enter new segments and markets profitably.
Ayisi Makatiani is CEO and Co-Founder of Caava Group, an AI-driven InsurTech ecosystem that leverages connected data platforms to help insurers expand, digitise, and grow profitably across Africa.