East Africa must fundamentally rethink its approach to insurance, shifting from a reactive crisis-driven mindset to one focused on resilience and long-term planning. Low insurance penetration across the region highlights a significant under-protection and a substantial growth opportunity.

• Insurance penetration in East Africa is critically low, standing at approximately 2.4% of GDP in Kenya, 2.1% in Tanzania, and under 1% in Uganda.
• The article is authored by Aly S. Maherali, Chief Executive Officer of Executive Healthcare Solutions (EHS).
• Key barriers include the perception of insurance as complicated, costly, or inaccessible, and a knowledge gap regarding its fundamental concepts.